The Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement dives safely into first base as Dodgers' pitcher Jack Dreyer covers during the eighth inning in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday in Los Angeles. (AP photo)

LOS ANGELES — Dodger Stadium was still shaking with joy when Monday turned to Tuesday as the Toronto Blue Jays trudged into their clubhouse. Their 18-inning loss in Game 3 felt like a monumental setback that might have already decided the World Series.

That’s when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped up and told his team exactly what it needed to hear.

For all its drama, Game 3 was no more important than Game 4.

“I was the last one to go in,” Guerrero said. “I saw everybody with his head down. I said, ‘Come on, bro. Head up. It’s not over yet. It’s not over yet. They gotta win four. Four games. You have to win four games to win the World Series. It’s not over.'”

The Jays’ leader then backed up his message by crushing another timely homer Tuesday night, this one off Shohei Ohtani.

And after nine superb innings played in less than three tidy hours, these profoundly resilient Blue Jays have evened the World Series again.

Guerrero hit a two-run homer off Ohtani in the third inning, Shane Bieber pitched four-hit ball into the sixth, and Toronto got back on track with a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Addison Barger had two hits and an RBI for the AL champion Blue Jays, who coolly rebounded from their heartbreaking, late-night defeat with stellar work at the plate and on the mound.

“Coming off what could be a back-breaking loss last night, it was an absolute pleasure to show up today and see nobody changes,” Bieber said. “Nobody ever wavers. Nobody ever hesitates. It’s the same group of guys each and every day.”

By sending the defending champion Dodgers to just their third loss in 14 games this postseason, the Blue Jays reclaimed homefield advantage and guaranteed the World Series trophy will be won at Rogers Centre.

“I believe in this team, man,” said Guerrero, who spurred the Jays with his seventh homer of the postseason. “This team is something special.”

Game 5 is Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, with Game 6 in Toronto on Friday.

That also made sure that Marquette native Adam Hamari would get to umpire a game behind home plate as that’s where he’ll be for Game 6 on Friday night.

Ohtani redefined the concept of short rest by taking the World Series mound just over 17 hours after he reached base nine times and smashed four extra-base hits in the Dodgers’ stirring victory.

He yielded four runs on six hits while pitching six-plus innings with six strikeouts in Game 4. And after Guerrero hit his majestic homer, the Blue Jays tagged Ohtani for two more while chasing him during their four-run seventh.

Ohtani couldn’t make up for it at the plate, going 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He was on deck when the game ended.

He didn’t have the only poor performance at bat for the powerhouse Dodgers, who mustered just six hits — only one for extra bases.

“We’re facing quality arms at this time of year against really good teams,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “We’re facing the best of the best, so I think it’s not that easy. At the same time, we could do at least the bare minimum and put up some runs.”

The Dodgers’ two-way superstar was outpitched by Bieber, the Blue Jays newcomer who returned from Tommy John surgery in late August. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner gave up just one run over 5 1/3 innings in a resilient World Series debut.

An Orange County native with friends and family roaring for him from the loge level at Dodger Stadium, Bieber issued three walks, but repeatedly got out of trouble. He stranded four runners before Mason Fluharty relieved him in the sixth and stranded two more — and the Blue Jays took control moments later with their seventh-inning rally.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB