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Only 24 hours following enduring one of the most exhausting defeats in World Series annals, the Toronto Blue Jays played with total control.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr crushed a two-run home run and Shane Bieber delivered a steady outing as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday evening at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two wins apiece and guaranteeing the series will head back to Canada.

Toronto had spent the morning of the next day dealing with their 18-inning third game defeat – equal to the lengthiest Fall Classic contest ever – a loss that cost them the chance to lead the series and depleted both bullpens. Manager John Schneider stated afterwards that “they won a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad provided emphatic evidence.

Early Action

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy drew a walk in the second, advanced on a single and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the early breakthrough did not rattle a Blue Jays club that topped MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this season.

They answered immediately in the third. Lukes lined a one away single to centre and Vladimir Guerrero Jr came to the plate looking for a breaking ball. Shohei Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it screaming over the outfield fence. It was his first extra-base hit of the World Series and his 7th homer this postseason – a new team record – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and changing the momentum of the game.

Shohei's Night

That swing also ended Shohei Ohtani's record-setting streak of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The two-way star had smashed two home runs and got on base a record nine times in the Dodgers' Game 3 comeback win. But on Tuesday, he started on limited rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the previous marathon.

Ohtani pitch speed was below his seasonal average and he struggled more as the game progressed. Even so, he showed glimpses of his typical command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero's blast and striking out six. He even walked in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Blue Jays made him work: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six innings.

Late Game Rally

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

Daulton Varsho opened the seventh with a sharp hit to right field, and Clement drilled a double off the wall to put two on with none out. Dave Roberts had no option but to remove the starter, who departed to a roaring applause from the local fans. The Los Angeles' bullpen could not complete the inning.

Banda came into the mess and right away trailed in the count. Giménez battled to a full count before scoring Varsho with a base hit to left. France followed with a groundout to make it 4-1, and that was sufficient to knock the pitcher out of the contest. Treinen came in next but also was unable to stem the rally: Bichette and Barger hit run-scoring singles through the infield, completing a four-run outburst that extended the margin to 6-1.

Toronto's Resilience

The Toronto's ability to absorb initial setbacks and answer has defined their entire postseason. They once again did it without George Springer, the injured leadoff hitter who left the third game after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was everything the Blue Jays required. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from Tommy John surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded multiple runners and quieted the Dodgers' potent lineup. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before Schneider called on rookie pitcher Fluharty to confront the heart of the order in the sixth inning. Fluharty required just four throws to retire Muncy and Tommy Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that soon became comfortable.

Former starting pitcher Chris Bassitt then worked a clean seventh and eighth innings as the Los Angeles' offense kept to struggle. Los Angeles have produced only 3 scores over their last 20 innings, an abrupt downturn for a club that was among MLB's top lineups all year.

Final Innings

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's double put runners aboard. But Varland finished the game without permitting a comeback to build.

After a night when Toronto stranded a Fall Classic-record 19 baserunners and fell apart after wave upon wave of missed chances, the fourth contest was brutally efficient. Six separate Toronto players collected base hits, five drove in runs and the squad cashed nearly every run-scoring opportunity available in the final innings.

Looking Ahead

The win ensures the World Series trophy will be presented at their home stadium, where the Toronto have not won a championship since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off homer in '93. They now are aware they are guaranteed a packed house in Canada on Friday evening – and possibly Saturday – no matter what happens next in Los Angeles.

Game 5 approaches with the matchup even and momentum swinging north. Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays respond with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of the opener, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an decisive victory.