Guerrero Jr. Leads the Charge as Blue Jays Bounce Back to Even the World Series

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The Toronto Blue Jays refused to let one marathon loss define their World Series. Less than twenty-four hours after an eighteen-inning heartbreak in Game 3, the Jays returned to Dodger Stadium calm, focused, and ready to respond—led by their fearless slugger, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero’s third-inning blast off Shohei Ohtani—a two-run shot to left-center—sent a clear message: the Blue Jays were not finished yet. Behind strong pitching from Shane Bieber and a steady lineup, Toronto defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–2 in Game 4, evening the series at two games apiece. After the crushing defeat Monday night, Guerrero knew his team needed a spark. “I saw everybody with their head down,” Guerrero said. “I told them, ‘Come on, bro. Head up. It’s not over yet. They gotta win four. Four games. You have to win four games to win the World Series.’” He backed up his words with his bat—his seventh home run of the postseason—and the Jays never looked back.

Bieber, making his first World Series appearance just two months after returning from Tommy John surgery, was masterful. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner held the Dodgers to one run over five and one-third innings, mixing sharp breaking balls with precise command. “Nobody ever wavers,” Bieber said after the win. “It’s the same group of guys every day. We believe in what we’re doing.”

Mason Fluharty and the Toronto bullpen handled the rest, keeping the powerful Dodgers lineup mostly quiet. Los Angeles managed just six hits—only one for extra bases.

Ohtani, pitching on barely seventeen hours of rest after his Game 3 heroics, was valiant but vulnerable. The two-way superstar allowed four runs on six hits over six-plus innings, striking out six but giving up several big swings, including Guerrero’s no-doubt homer and a seventh-inning rally that chased him from the game. At the plate, Ohtani cooled off as well. After reaching base nine times the night before, he went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. “We’re facing great pitching,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “This is the best of the best. We just need to find ways to push some runs across.” The Blue Jays’ offense broke out in the seventh inning with four runs, highlighted by Bo Bichette and Addison Barger driving in key insurance tallies. Barger finished with two hits and an RBI, while Nathan Lukes and Andrés Giménez added timely contributions of their own. The win guarantees the series will return to Toronto, where the Jays will have a chance to clinch in front of their home fans at Rogers Centre. “I believe in this team,” Guerrero said. “This team is something special.”

Game 5, a pivotal matchup, will feature Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (3–1, 2.42 ERA) against Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage (2–1, 4.26). It is a rematch of Game 1, when Toronto tagged Snell for a six-run inning en route to an 11–4 victory. With the series tied 2–2, both teams understand the stakes: win Wednesday, and you head to Toronto one victory away from a championship. After Tuesday night’s confident, complete performance, the Blue Jays appear ready for the challenge.