It was never a contest—at least not for the fans.

The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 15-2, clinching the AL East title for the first time in 22 years during the first game of a double-header.

At Real Sports Bar near Rogers Centre, hundreds of fans celebrated the Jays win and their assured spot in the playoffs.

Norm Sandham, who supported the Jays since they were at Exhibition Stadium, says he's never seen the city so electrified, not even in 1992.

“I’m still stunned,” he said moments after the Jays’ historic win. “If it was a close game that would be one thing, but what a tour de force to win it like that.”

The Jays scored their first couple of runs in the second inning, and continued to pile on for the rest of the game. About halfway through, fans knew it was a done deal.

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"Today is the game, it's the moment that we Blue Jays fans have been waiting for, for awhile," Humberto Nicolay said. "So we're having fun!"

By the bottom of the eighth, they led the Orioles 10-1, before scoring an astounding five runs—including two home runs—in the ninth.

Justin Smoak and Jose Bautista hit two home runs in the 9th inning. Earlier in the seventh, Edwin Encarnacion’s 37th home run of the season – a two-run shot – helped the Jays reach double digits in runs. Ryan Goins chipped in with five hits.

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The Orioles scored one run against the Jays in the ninth, bringing their total score to 2. The CN Tower was lit blue in honour of their win.

It's about time Toronto had a winning team, Sandham says.

"The city's starving for it," he said.

Office workers in khakis and button downs began filing into the bar at 4 p.m., rolling up their shirtsleeves and hunkering down for the game before the official end of the workday.

Luke Thorn’s GO Train was delayed so he and his colleagues watched the game in the city.

“I guess it’s just something that we grew up with, our family, our dads passed it down,” he said.

Expectations remained high throughout the game.

“This game’s over. It was over before it started,” Thorn said.

The streets were quiet after the game, and while many patrons filed outside to head home after the first win, plenty stayed to watch the second game against the Orioles.

The Jays also have a shot at being the top seed in the American League, which would give them a home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They’re two games ahead of the Kansas City Royals.

The Jays have three games left against Baltimore and three against the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It’s so important that we have home field advantage because the fans really are the tenth player,” Sandham said.

One unlucky woman found herself in enemy territory. Gillian Budd, a Baltimore native, is a lifelong Orioles fan but in Toronto for business.

“I like a good competition,” she said. “It’s a little more blue than I would prefer, I’d like to see more orange.”