In a pivotal World Series Game 4, the Toronto Blue Jays delivered a commanding 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, immediately neutralizing the emotional momentum the Dodgers had gained from their marathon 18-inning Game 3 win. The highly anticipated pitching matchup featured the Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani making his first World Series start on the mound against the Blue Jays’ former Cy Young winner, Shane Bieber. Ultimately, the game hinged on a crucial blow delivered by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose two-run home run off Ohtani gave the Blue Jays a lead they never relinquished. Behind a resilient effort from Bieber and a decisive four-run rally in the seventh inning that exposed the weary Dodgers bullpen, the Blue Jays proved they were far from finished, setting the stage for a dramatic best-of-three finale.
The Star Matchup And Guerrero’s Clutch Hr
Game 4 presented one of the most compelling pitching matchups of the series, featuring two of baseball’s biggest names, but the critical moment came from the bat of a Canadian icon.
Ohtani’s Herculean Effort: Just one night after playing a grueling 18-inning game—where he reached base a remarkable nine times—Shohei Ohtani took the mound for his first career World Series pitching start. The feat was a testament to his elite conditioning and singular commitment. While he started strong, Ohtani showed signs of fatigue in the middle innings. After the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Enrique Hernández, the Blue Jays quickly responded.
Vladdy Jr. Crushes the Sweeper: In the top of the third inning, with a runner on base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. jumped on an 85 mph sweeper from Ohtani and crushed it 395 feet to left-center field for a two-run home run. This powerful shot gave the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. The home run was Guerrero’s seventh of the postseason, making him the Blue Jays’ all-time leader in playoff home runs. It was a pivotal moment, shifting the emotional control back to Toronto and handing Ohtani his first significant mistake of the night.
Bieber’s Resilience And Bullpen Relief
Facing the pressure of an elimination threat, the Blue Jays received a vital, gutsy performance from their starting pitcher, Shane Bieber, which provided essential rest for the depleted bullpen.
Bieber Delivers: Entering the game with his team emotionally exhausted and facing a potential 3-1 series deficit, Shane Bieber delivered a strong outing. He navigated through the potent Dodgers lineup, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits. His command was sharp, helping him escape trouble in the early innings and providing the necessary length to protect Toronto’s relievers, all of whom had pitched heavily in the previous night’s marathon.
Relief Work and Defensive Clutch: The Toronto bullpen, despite its heavy workload in Game 3, rose to the occasion, expertly backing up Bieber. Furthermore, the Blue Jays’ defense made crucial plays to keep the game tight. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Guerrero Jr. made a spectacular diving stop on a sharp line drive from Tommy Edman to retire the side and rescue Bieber from a major threat, showcasing the total team effort required for the win.
The Seventh-Inning Explosion
The decisive moment of Game 4 arrived in the top of the seventh inning, when the Blue Jays’ offense broke the game open with a four-run rally, finally capitalizing on the Dodgers’ overworked bullpen.
Ohtani’s Exit: With the score still a tight 2-1, the first two Blue Jays batters of the seventh—Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement—reached base on hard-hit balls, ending Shohei Ohtani’s night after six innings. Ohtani was charged with four earned runs in the end, a consequence of the runners he left on base. Reliever Anthony Banda entered the game and was immediately pressured.
Small Ball Dominance: The Blue Jays’ rally was not powered by home runs but by relentless, contact-driven small ball. An RBI single from Andrés Giménez scored the first run. After the Dodgers recorded two outs, Ty France drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. The pressure continued as the Dodgers intentionally walked Guerrero Jr. to load the bases, but back-to-back RBI singles from Bo Bichette and Addison Barger drove in two more runs, extending the lead to a commanding 6-1. The rally provided the insurmountable cushion that sealed the victory.
A Series Tied: Momentum Shift
The Toronto Blue Jays’ 6-2 victory successfully erased the pain and exhaustion of their 18-inning loss in Game 3, sending a clear message that the series was wide open.
Emotional Bounce-Back: The ability of the Blue Jays to immediately rebound from such a crushing, demoralizing defeat highlighted the character and mental toughness of the underdog team. They recognized Game 4 was a crucial pivot point, and their focused, powerful offensive execution in the seventh inning proved they had successfully compartmentalized the previous night’s heartbreak.
The Best-of-Three: With the series now tied at 2-2, the Fall Classic transformed into a best-of-three, ensuring at least one more game at Dodger Stadium before the series shifted back to Toronto. The victory gave the Blue Jays confidence that they could compete head-to-head with the heavily favored Dodgers, turning the remaining games into a dramatic sprint for the championship title.
