The Jays fans in the ballpark spent so much time on their feet cheering that it might have made sense for them to have purchased standing-room-only tickets.

“Oh my gosh, yeah, especially in the first inning,” Horwitz said. “They started a ‘Let’s Go Blue Jays,’ chant and it felt like a home game for a second.”

The Blue Jays got to work right away, teeing off Twins starter Zebby Matthews. The right-hander hit George Springer to open the game and Varsho immediately followed with a two-run shot over the left-centre field wall. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled and then Horwitz mashed his ninth homer of the season.

Nathan Lukes then added an RBI double and Leo Jimenez cashed in two more with a single up the middle. All told, the Blue Jays plated seven runs in the first inning before Matthews was even able to record two outs.

“Really good plan put together by the hitting [coaches],” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “And then the guys going out and executing it. You don’t see that — seven runs, it happened pretty quick. And they stuck to it.”

The Blue Jays’ 23 hits represented their highest tally in a game this season. Wagner led the way with five and became the first rookie in franchise history to achieve the feat.

“It’s amazing, congrats to him,” said Schneider. “He’s just steady. Even in that couple-of-game stretch where he was not getting hits — I mean, we’re not asking him to hit .500 — but he’s just steady. He’s a pro. Nothing really fazes him. I just love the way he goes about it every single day. Simple swing and just understands the game.”