TORONTO -- It has been 1,096 days since the Blue Jays last dressed in red and took the field for Canada Day in Toronto. A few things have changed.

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It was 2019, only Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 55th career game. Bo Bichette wasn’t even a big leaguer yet. Eric Sogard led off, Clayton Richard started the game and you didn’t have a face mask tucked into every bag and jacket pocket yet. It was a lifetime ago.

“This is a day that reminds you how great it is to play for Canada,” said Charlie Montoyo after Friday’s 9-2 win over the Rays at Rogers Centre. “We play for a country. It’s awesome. My first one was in 2019, and it reminds you how cool this is. I was actually nervous. I wanted to win so bad for so many people. I actually went outside after my run to say ‘Happy Canada Day’ to everybody and take pictures. I don’t take this for granted.”

Montoyo was in his first year at the helm in 2019, working through a 67-95 season that was a necessary low point for a rebuilding franchise.

In 2019, someone like José Berríos seemed unattainable, a faraway ace that the Blue Jays hoped they’d one day develop. Friday, there he was, his white No. 17 on a red jersey.

“It was so special,” Berríos said after earning the win. “I’ve heard about this day, but being here and having the opportunity to pitch on this day, it was a little emotional. I know a lot of Canadians enjoy and want to be in the ballpark on a day like today. I took that to motivate myself.”

In the years since 2019, the Blue Jays have pivoted, plowed forward and grown up. Friday’s win over the Rays in front of a sellout crowd of 44,445 looked oddly familiar, though. This is what Tampa Bay used to do to Toronto, piling on runs while shining a spotlight on every little mistake.

The Rays have built a sustainable winner on their ability to play clean, tight baseball and pounce on an opponent’s mistake the moment it happens. In the third inning, though, it was Kevin Keirmaier -- typically a vacuum in center field -- who blinked. Tracking Cavan Biggio’s fly ball back to the wall, Kiermaier tried to make a basket catch near his belt instead of reaching his glove above his head, and bobbled it.

Biggio’s double moved Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who’d reached on a double of his own, to third base. This is when the floodgates opened.

Bichette broke it open with a double, scoring two runs, then Guerrero turned on an inside pitch and ripped it down the left-field line for a double of his own, scoring two more. Alejandro Kirk strolled up to the dish next and doubled -- because of course he did -- to bring in Guerrero.

“Today was one of those days that I’ve been talking about,” Montoyo said. “When our pitching gave us a chance, our offense is going to go. Even against a good pitcher like [Corey] Kluber. That’s exactly what happened. Berrios kept us in the game, and our offense took off.”

The five doubles were just one shy of Toronto’s club record set in 2010 against the Yankees. You could sense the drumbeat of momentum in Rogers Centre, something that has been growing this week as the Blue Jays have taken four of five from the Red Sox and Rays. That ‘19 season represents the middle point in all of this, because this week in Toronto has started to feel more like the ‘15 and ‘16 postseason runs, filled with high-stakes division games and late theatrics.

Bridging the gap Friday was Russell Martin, the great Canadian catcher who was honored prior to the game. Recently retired, Martin played four seasons with the Blue Jays, beginning with those two thrilling postseason runs. A video played, narrated by José Bautista, then a montage of personal messages. Among them was John Gibbons, who joked that he couldn’t speak French, “but adios amigo.”

These beloved figures are what this current Blue Jays roster hopes to be, whether it’s two years or twelve years from now. Step one was getting to this competitive phase, but the second step from being a good team to a great team is always most difficult.

At times, this Blue Jays team hasn’t looked ready, particularly through some rough patches earlier in the year. Weeks like this, though, and performances like Friday’s show you a team that has grown into a true American League East power since the last time the dome in downtown Toronto filled with red jerseys.