The Toronto Blue Jays tied the best-of-seven World Series at 2-2 after a convincing 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s two-run early homer and a glut of runs in the seventh inning helped Major League Baseball's only Canadian team come from behind at Dodger Stadium.
It also ensures that the series returns to Toronto for a sixth game and possibly a deciding seventh.
After Monday's 18-inning epic sapped the energy from both teams' bullpens, the Dodgers and Blue Jays relied on extended outings for their starting pitchers to give their bench corps some breathing room.
All eyes were on Japanese Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani as he was scheduled to serve as the starting pitcher and leadoff hitter in this game.
Ohtani, 31, is an exceptionally rare individual. “two-way” player operates at an elite level as both a pitcher and hitter.
But after reaching base in all nine at-bats in Game 3, he lost the bat and left the pitcher's mound in the seventh inning, trailing 2–1 and putting two runners on base—both of whom would score—with no outs.
Toronto's lesser-known starter, California-born Shane Bieber, showed no favors to the hosts, striking out Ohtani twice and pitching in the sixth inning, allowing just one run.
The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Enrique Hernandez's sacrifice fly scored Max Muncy.
Toronto's offense was missing George Springer, who suffered a muscle injury during Game 3, but Guerrero stepped up and singled Ohtani through left-center field to make it 2-1.
After Ohtani was sent off, Andres Jimenez, Ty France, Beau Bichette and Addison Barger all drove in to give the Blue Jays some breathing room with the score 6-1 going into the seventh inning.
The Dodgers briefly threatened a rally in the bottom of the ninth when Teoscar Hernandez walked, Muncy doubled and Tommy Edman singled to score Hernandez, but Toronto closed out the win without much alarm.
The series continues with Game 5, again at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
