Guerrero Blasts against Ohtani as Toronto Defeat Los Angeles to Tie World Series at 2-2

Only 24 hours after enduring one of the most draining losses in Fall Classic annals, the Blue Jays displayed total control.

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a steady start as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, squaring the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will head back to Toronto.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their marathon Game 3 loss – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a defeat that cost them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated afterwards that “the Dodgers took a contest, not the championship”. A day later, his team provided convincing proof.

Early Action

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

They responded right away in the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a curveball. Shohei Ohtani left a slider up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a new club record – restoring the Blue Jays's advantage after 13 scoreless frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting run of 11 consecutive at-bats reaching base. The dual-threat star had smashed two home runs and reached safely a record nine times in the Dodgers' third game comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his briefest ever – after requiring an IV to recover from the previous extra-inning game.

His pitch speed was below his seasonal norm and he labored more as the contest wore on. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical control, setting down 11 of 12 after Guerrero's homer and striking out six. He even drew a walk in the first to continue his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four earned runs were charged to him in six-plus innings.

Late Game Surge

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what came next when he eventually ran out of energy.

Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right field, and Ernie Clement drilled a two-base hit off the wall to put two on with no outs. Dave Roberts had little choice but to pull the starter, who exited to a roaring applause from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the escape.

Anthony Banda inherited the jam and right away fell behind. Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before scoring Varsho with a single to left. France came up next with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock Banda out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also was unable to stop the momentum: Bo Bichette and Barger punched run-scoring singles through the diamond, capping a four-score barrage that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand early setbacks and answer has defined their whole postseason. They once again succeeded without George Springer, the hurt leadoff hitter who exited Game 3 after tweaking his oblique.

Bieber, in contrast, was everything the Blue Jays required. Acquired during the summer while finishing recovery from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several runners and silenced the Los Angeles' potent lineup. He allowed one run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty to face the core of the order in the sixth. Fluharty required just 4 pitches to get out Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow lead that soon grew comfortable.

Converted starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth as the Dodgers' offense continued to struggle. Los Angeles have scored only three runs over their previous 20 innings, an abrupt slowdown for a team that was among MLB's top lineups all season.

Final Moments

The Dodgers scraped a run in the ninth inning when Tommy Edman grounded out to score Teoscar Hernández after a walk and Muncy's two-base hit put runners aboard. But Louis Varland closed it down without allowing a rally to build.

Following a night when the Blue Jays left a Fall Classic-record 19 runners and collapsed after wave upon wave of wasted opportunities, Game 4 was ruthlessly effective. 6 different Toronto players recorded base hits, five brought home scores and the team converted nearly every scoring opportunity available in the late stanzas.

Next Up

The victory ensures the championship title will be awarded at Rogers Centre, where the Toronto have not won a title since Carter's famous game-winning home run in 1993. They now are aware they are guaranteed a full crowd in Canada on Friday night – and perhaps Saturday – no matter what occurs next in LA.

Game 5 approaches with the series reset and momentum swinging to Toronto. Los Angeles pitcher Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to arrest the Blue Jays's momentum. Toronto counter with first-year player Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto chased Snell quickly in an decisive win.