Guerrero Blasts off Ohtani as Blue Jays See Off Dodgers to Level Series at 2-2

Less than a day after enduring one of the most draining defeats in Fall Classic annals, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed complete control.

Guerrero smashed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber provided a composed start as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, squaring the Fall Classic at two wins apiece and ensuring the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the early hours of Tuesday processing their 18-inning Game 3 loss – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a defeat that cost them the opportunity to lead the matchup and burned through both bullpens. Skipper John Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers won a contest, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his team offered emphatic evidence.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second inning, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Hernández's sacrifice fly. But the initial breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped Major League Baseball with 49 comeback victories this season.

They answered right away in the third. Nathan Lukes hit a one away single to centre and Guerrero came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani left a slider up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the series and his 7th home run this postseason – a new club record – restoring the Toronto's advantage after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the night.

Shohei's Night

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 straight plate appearances reaching base. The two-way star had hit two homers and got on base a record nine times in the Los Angeles' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his briefest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

His pitch speed was under his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest progressed. Nonetheless, he showed glimpses of his usual control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's homer and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to continue his Fall Classic record. But the Toronto made him work: six hits and four runs were credited to him in over six innings.

Seventh Inning Rally

The larger issue for Los Angeles was what followed when he eventually ran out of energy.

Varsho opened the seventh inning with a clean single to right field, and Ernie Clement smashed a double off the fence to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had little choice but to remove Ohtani, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Banda inherited the mess and right away trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez fought to a full count before driving in the runner with a single to left. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to remove Banda out of the contest. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the rally: Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, capping a four-run barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Toronto's capacity to withstand initial blows and answer has defined their whole postseason. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who left the third game after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, in contrast, was exactly what the Blue Jays needed. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the former Cy Young winner left several baserunners and silenced the Los Angeles' dangerous lineup. He allowed one run on four hits and three free passes before Schneider called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty needed just four throws to retire Max Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that quickly became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense kept to sputter. The Dodgers have produced only three runs over their last 20 innings, an sudden downturn for a club that ranked among baseball's elite offenses all season.

Closing Moments

The Los Angeles managed a score in the ninth when Tommy Edman hit into an out to bring home Teoscar Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a comeback to develop.

Following a game when Toronto left a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly efficient. 6 different Blue Jays collected base hits, five drove in runs and the team converted almost every scoring chance presented in the final stanzas.

Looking Ahead

The victory ensures the championship title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not celebrated a title since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off home run in '93. They now know they are assured a packed house in Toronto on Friday night – and possibly Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup reset and momentum shifting to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to arrest the Toronto's momentum. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a rematch of the opener, when the Blue Jays chased Snell early in an decisive victory.