BALTIMORE — Adam Jones had just hit the winning home run and absorbed a celebratory shaving cream pie in the face, and now the Baltimore Orioles center fielder was standing in the clubhouse surrounded by television cameras, microphones and his two little boys.

If there was any thought that his 11th opening day with the Orioles would be jumbled together with all the rest, the aftermath of Baltimore’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday was solid evidence to the contrary.

“Each one is more and more special because it shows I’ve been able to maintain and stay in the big leagues,” Jones said. “This one is probably more important because my kids are able to talk a little bit better and they understand what’s going on better.”

Jones homered on Fernando Rodney’s first pitch starting the bottom of the 11th inning to provide the Orioles with their eighth consecutive opening day victory.

After working out of trouble in the 10th, Rodney’s debut with the Twins came to an abrupt end when Jones went deep to left.

“I knew it was gone off the bat,” said Jones, whose contract expires after this season.