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Less than a day following enduring one of the most exhausting losses in World Series history, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed start as Toronto beat the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, squaring the World Series at two games each and ensuring the matchup will return to Toronto.

The Blue Jays had passed the morning of the next day processing their 18-inning third game defeat – tied for the longest World Series contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider insisted afterwards that “they won a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic proof.

Initial Innings

The Los Angeles again struck first. Max Muncy walked in the second inning, moved up on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the early score did not shake a Blue Jays team that led Major League Baseball with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They responded immediately in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single to centre and Guerrero stepped in hunting a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a sweeper up and Guerrero sent it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial extra-base hit of the series and his 7th homer this playoffs – a fresh team mark – regaining the Toronto's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the tone of the night.

Ohtani's Night

That swing also halted Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 straight at-bats getting on base. The dual-threat phenomenon had smashed two homers and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recover from the previous marathon.

His fastball velocity sat under his regular-season norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and fanning six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six base hits and four earned runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The larger problem for the Dodgers was what came next when he eventually ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh inning with a clean hit to right field, and Clement smashed a double off the fence to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove Ohtani, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Los Angeles' relief corps could not complete the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the mess and immediately fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring the runner with a single to left. Ty France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to knock Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring base hits through the diamond, capping a four-run outburst that pushed the margin to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Toughness

The Blue Jays's capacity to withstand early setbacks and respond has defined their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff man who exited the third game after straining his oblique.

Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays needed. Acquired mid-season while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner left multiple baserunners and quieted the Dodgers' dangerous lineup. He gave up one run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth. He needed just 4 pitches to retire Muncy and Edman, protecting a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only three runs over their last 20 frames, an sudden slowdown for a team that was among MLB's top offenses all season.

Closing Innings

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a walk and Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to build.

After a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of missed opportunities, Game 4 was brutally efficient. 6 different Toronto players recorded base hits, 5 brought home scores and the team cashed nearly every run-scoring chance available in the late innings.

Next Up

The win ensures the championship trophy will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's famous walk-off home run in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what happens next in LA.

The fifth game looms with the series reset and momentum swinging north. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with first-year player Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays knocked out the starter quickly in an decisive win.