Streak Glance

? Here is a list and synopsis of the Kansas City Royals’ 11-game home winning streak to start the 2003 season, including the one that eventually got away.

  • March 31 — KC 3, White Sox 0. The streak gets off to an impressive start with the Royals’ first Opening-Day win in eight years and first-ever Opening-Day shutout.
  • April 2 — KC 5, White Sox 4. With the score 3-all, Angel Berroa reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tony Graffanino ahead of Joe Randa’s tiebreaking home run in the seventh.
  • April 3 — KC 12, White Sox 6. A laugher, but a strange one. Every run scored with two out for the Royals, who went to 3-0 for the first time since 1979.
  • April 4 — KC 5, Indians 1. Left-hander Chris George goes 62¼3 strong innings on a cold, blustery Friday night.
  • April 5 — KC 3, Indians 1. Runelvys Hernandez, Jason Grimsley and Mike MacDougal combine on a two-hit shutout as the Royals become the first team in major-league history to start 5-0 after a 100-loss season.
  • April 18 — KC 4, Tigers 3. Rookie Ken Harvey homers leading off the 11th inning after Royals’ 3-4-5 hitters all fail to deliver with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 10th.
  • April 19 — KC 9, Tigers 2. Desi Relaford homers, and Raul Ibanez hits a two-run single in a five-run third as the Royals become the remaining undefeated team at home; Royals’ 13-3 start is best in team history.
  • April 20 — KC 4, Tigers 3. Relaford leads off the ninth with a grounder to shortstop Omar Infante, who throws the ball into the dugout for an error as Relaford goes to second. Then Relaford scores the winning run on Carlos Pena’s throwing error.
  • April 22 — KC 4, Twins 3. Royals walk a season-high 10 batters and MacDougal allows two runs in the ninth before nailing down the 10th straight home win.
  • April 24 — KC 2, Twins 1. Twins outfielder Torii Hunter is on second with one out in the ninth when a fly ball is lifted into left field. Thinking the ball had bounced in front of Raul Ibanez, Hunter speeds toward third, and is easily doubled off second as the Royals become the ninth team since 1901 to start a season 10-0 at home.
  • May 5 — KC 7, Red Sox 6. Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra hits a two-run homer in the eighth, and the Red Sox go ahead 6-5 on Jason Varitek’s solo homer in the ninth. Then the Royals load the bases and score two with two out in the bottom of the ninth on a hit batsman and Garciaparra’s second error.
  • May 6 — Red Sox 7, KC 3. The streak ends a game short of tying the record for most consecutive home wins to start a season. Trailing 6-0 in the seventh, the Royals scored three runs. Kansas City came no closer as Red Sox relievers Mike Timlin and Tim Wakefield combined for 21¼3 scoreless innings to end the game and the streak.