Vladimir Guerrero Jr Homers against Ohtani as Blue Jays Defeat Dodgers to Level World Series at 2-2

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

Guerrero crushed a two-run home run and Bieber delivered a composed outing as the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers 6-2 in the fourth game on Tuesday night at their home ballpark, tying the World Series at two games each and guaranteeing the matchup will return to Toronto.

Toronto had passed the morning of Tuesday dealing with their marathon third game defeat – tied for the lengthiest Fall Classic game ever – a loss that denied them the opportunity to take the lead in the series and burned through both bullpens. Manager Schneider stated afterwards that “they took a game, not the World Series”. Twenty-three hours later, his squad offered convincing proof.

Initial Innings

The Dodgers again struck first. Muncy walked in the second, advanced on a base hit and crossed the plate on Kiké Hernández's fly out. But the initial breakthrough did not shake a Toronto team that led MLB with 49 come-from-behind wins this year.

They answered right away in the third. Lukes lined a one away single to center field and Guerrero stepped in looking for a breaking ball. Ohtani threw a slider up and he drove it soaring over the outfield fence. It was his initial long hit of the series and his 7th home run this playoffs – a fresh club mark – regaining the Blue Jays's lead after 13 shutout frames and shifting the momentum of the game.

Ohtani's Performance

That hit also ended Shohei Ohtani's history-making run of 11 consecutive at-bats getting on base. The two-way phenomenon had hit two home runs and reached safely a historic nine times in the Dodgers' third game walk-off. But on Tuesday, he took the mound on short rest – his shortest ever – after needing an IV to recuperate from the prior extra-inning game.

His fastball velocity was below his regular-season average and he labored more as the game wore on. Even so, he displayed glimpses of his usual command, retiring 11 of 12 after Guerrero Jr's blast and fanning six. He even walked in the first inning to extend his Fall Classic streak. But the Toronto forced him to labor: six hits and four runs were charged to him in over six frames.

Late Game Rally

The larger problem for Los Angeles was what followed when he eventually ran out of steam.

Daulton Varsho started the seventh with a clean hit to right, and Ernie Clement smashed 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 standing ovation from the home crowd. The Dodgers' bullpen could not finish the inning.

Anthony Banda came into the jam and right away trailed in the count. Andrés Giménez battled to a 3-2 count before driving in the runner with a base hit to left. France followed with a fielder's choice to make it 4-1, and that was enough to remove the pitcher out of the game. Blake Treinen entered next but also failed to stop the momentum: Bichette and Addison Barger punched RBI singles through the diamond, completing a four-run outburst that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Blue Jays's Resilience

The Blue Jays's ability to withstand initial blows and answer has defined their entire run. They once again did it without George Springer, the hurt top-of-the-order man who exited Game 3 after straining his right side.

Shane Bieber, meanwhile, was exactly what Toronto required. Traded for during the summer while completing rehab from elbow surgery, the ex- Cy Young winner stranded several baserunners and quieted the Los Angeles' potent batting order. He gave up one earned run on four base hits and three walks before the manager called on first-year left-hander Mason Fluharty to confront the heart of the lineup in the sixth inning. He required just 4 throws to retire Muncy and Edman, preserving a narrow advantage that quickly became safe.

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

Closing Moments

The Dodgers managed a score in the ninth inning when Edman hit into an out to score Hernández after a base on balls and Muncy's two-base hit put runners on base. But Louis Varland closed it down without permitting a rally to build.

After a night when Toronto stranded a World Series-record 19 baserunners and collapsed after repeated of missed opportunities, the fourth contest was brutally effective. Six different Blue Jays collected base hits, 5 drove in runs and the team cashed nearly every scoring opportunity available in the final stanzas.

Next Up

The win ensures the World Series title will be presented at Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays have not won a title since Joe Carter's iconic walk-off home run in 1993. They now know they are assured a full house 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 to Toronto. Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) will attempt to halt the Toronto's surge. The Blue Jays counter with rookie Yesavage (2-1, 4.26 ERA) in a repeat of Game 1, when the Toronto knocked out Snell early in an 11-4 win.

Laurie Sanchez
Laurie Sanchez

A gemologist with over 15 years of experience in diamond valuation and market analysis, passionate about educating investors and enthusiasts.