As much as we might think athletes remain unaffected by the atmosphere in which they play, the fan support, the noise levels that shake a stadium and Blue Jays home games on Canada Day at the Rogers Centre disprove that notion each year. There’s always a full house, a sea of red and the outpouring of patriotism that makes even the most hardened, most cynical Jays players smile.

That same inspirational baseball atmosphere returns Friday afternoon as the Jays host the Cleveland Indians. Catcher Russell Martin, born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, recalls last season’s 11-2 win, as Mark Buehrle beat Rick Porcello and the Red Sox in front of 45,392. It was the Jays’ fourth sellout of the season, but opening day is more of an event, lacking the passion of mid-season. Then late in July, the Jays made some big deadline deals and took off. But Martin saw that Canada Day as a preview.

“When the people get excited, players get excited,” Martin said. “At the time, the energy that we felt in that (July 1) game, it kept going as the season went along. We made some trades and that’s when everything kind of just started being more energetic at the ballpark. The fans, the players, everybody. We started getting that buzz going and that’s what we’re looking for again.”

The Jays have won three straight Canada Day home games under manager John Gibbons, beating the Red Sox, Brewers and Tigers, since 2013. First baseman/DH Edwin Encarnacion has seen enough of these sold-out games to know what they mean and has a four-game hitting streak on Canada’s birthday, including a homer in last year’s contest.

“I don’t even pay attention to that,” Encarnacion said of his confederation of hits. “I just try to do it every day, to do the best that I can do. It’s Canadian Day, so I feel like I’m Canadian.”

Left fielder Michael Saunders, a Victoria native, missed the game last year, recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring. This will be his first chance to experience the pride of playing for a Canadian team on the country’s birthday, at home.

“This is going to be my first Canada Day in Canada since I was 16 years old,” Saunders said. “I’m pretty excited. Proximity-wise, we were close (with the Mariners), but no one’s really celebrating Canada Day in Seattle. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.

“I’m proud to be a Canadian and proud to be wearing a Jays uniform. It will be special for me. As of right now, I haven’t really thought about it, but I’m sure once we get out there, the anthems playing, everyone’s in red, honouring Canada, it will be a pretty special moment.”

Strangely, for some reason in the past, scheduling the Blue Jays at home for Canada Day was not always a priority for Major League Baseball. Of course, part of it is that when the SkyDome first opened its doors and pulled back the roof in 1989, there was no need to create a special event. The ballpark was filled every night through the World Series years of 1992 and ’93.

But, even at that, the Jays played 11 straight July 1 home games, from 1989-99. However, after that, the Jays were home just twice in 11 years from 2000-10, with eight road games and an off-day. Gibbons was the manager for one of those rare Rogers Centre Canada Day games, in 2006, and has won three straight in his second tour as manager. He has a theory on his team’s success.

“Never underestimate a motivated individual,” Gibbons said, lightheartedly. “That’s a good thing, because it’s always going to be a packed house and you’ve got a bunch of wannabe Canadians out in that room (the clubhouse). It brings out the best of them. There’s something about that red.”

One of the greatest pitching duels in club history unfolded on a memorable July 1, 1997, as the Montreal Expos came to town for an inter-league series. Both Canadian teams, one national anthem and 50,436 fans on a beautiful Canada Day afternoon. The Jays sent the dominant Rogers Clemens to the mound with a 12-2 record to face giant right-hander Jeff Juden, with a surprising 9-2 mark.

Juden held a no-hitter into the eighth inning, before Shawn Green led off with a home run to cut the Expos lead to 2-1. Montreal had scored one in the first and another in the second and held on to win by that final score. Clemens allowed two hits and fanned eight in 8 1/3 innings, but Juden out-pitched the eventual Cy Young winner, tossing 8 2/3 innings, with two hits and 14 strikeouts.

Thirty-nine-year-old reliever Jason Grilli grew up in western New York, in Syracuse, a fan of the Jays. He was looking forward to experiencing Canada Day at the ballpark for himself.

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“I’ve heard all about it and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Grilli said prior to the series opener vs. the Indians. “I’ll check it off the bucket list. I’ve heard it’s going to be awesome. I already know what the fans are like here, Canada Day or not, so to see the sea of red and the country not only excited about us being in town, but to celebrate the holiday is going to be awesome.”

Happy Canada Day.