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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with complete command.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed outing as the Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the series will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had spent the morning of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – tied for the longest World Series game ever – a loss that cost them the chance to lead the matchup and depleted both bullpens. Manager Schneider insisted later that “the Dodgers won a game, not the championship”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered emphatic evidence.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy drew a walk in the second, advanced on a base hit and scored on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Toronto club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind victories this year.

They answered right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes lined a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr stepped in looking for a curveball. Ohtani left a slider up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the left-center wall. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his seventh home run this postseason – a new club record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 scoreless frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 straight plate appearances getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had smashed two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on that night, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

Ohtani pitch speed was below his seasonal norm and he struggled more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he displayed glimpses of his typical command, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic record. But the Blue Jays made him work: six base hits and four runs were credited to him in six-plus innings.

Seventh Inning Surge

The bigger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when Ohtani eventually ran out of energy.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a sharp hit to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a double off the fence to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to pull Ohtani, who exited to a standing ovation from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Banda inherited the jam and right away trailed in the count. Giménez fought to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a single to left field. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stem the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the infield, completing a four-score outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial setbacks and respond has characterized their whole postseason. They once again did it without George Springer, the injured leadoff man who exited the third game after tweaking his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Traded for mid-season while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- award-winning winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks before Schneider called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that quickly became safe.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a clean seventh and eighth as the Los Angeles' bats kept to struggle. The Dodgers have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a team that was among MLB's elite lineups all year.

Final Moments

The Dodgers managed a run in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to bring home Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put two aboard. But Varland finished the game without allowing a comeback to build.

After a game when Toronto left a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. Six separate Blue Jays collected base hits, five drove in scores and the squad converted almost every run-scoring opportunity presented in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The victory guarantees the World Series trophy will be awarded at their home stadium, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Carter's famous game-winning homer in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed crowd in Canada on Friday night – and possibly the next day – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Blue Jays chased the starter early in an decisive victory.