The 2003 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 2003 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Monday, October 6, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:
(1) New York Yankees (Eastern Division champion, 101–61) vs. (3) Minnesota Twins (Central Division champion, 90–72): Yankees win series, 3–1. (2) Oakland Athletics (Western Division champion, 96–66) vs. (4) Boston Red Sox (Wild Card, 95–67): Red Sox win series, 3–2.
The Yankees defeated the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series, then lost the 2003 World Series to the National League champion Florida Marlins.
Matchups
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
New York vs. Minnesota
Game 1
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York
The Twins struck first in Game 1 when Cristian Guzman and Shannon Stewart hit back-to-back one-out singles in the third off Mike Mussina, then the former scored on Luis Rivas's sacrifice fly. Matt LeCroy singled to lead off the sixth, then scored on a triple by Torii Hunter, who himself scored on Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano's error. The Yankees scored a run in the ninth on Soriano's two-out single with runners on second and third off Eddie Guardado, but Nick Johnson then grounded out to end the game as the Twins, despite using five pitchers, took a 1–0 series lead.
Game 2
Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York
The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs on three singles in the first off Brad Radke, but scored just once on Bernie Williams's sacrifice fly. The Twins tied the game in the fifth on Torii Hunter's leadoff home run off Andy Pettitte. Radke hit Nick Johnson to lead off the seventh. After Juan Rivera's sacrifice bunt, LaTroy Hawkins relieved Radke and allowed an RBI single to Alfonso Soriano. Hawkins's error on Derek Jeter's ground ball put him at second and Soriano at third. Both scored on Jason Giambi's single and Mariano Rivera pitched two perfect innings for the save. The Yankees' 4–1 win tied the series heading to Minnesota.
Game 3
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Yankees struck first in Game 3 on Hideki Matsui's two-run home run in the second off Kyle Lohse. They added another run next inning on Bernie Williams's single that scored Juan Rivera from second. A. J. Pierzynski's leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning off Roger Clemens cut the lead to 3–1, but neither team scored after that with Mariano Rivera again pitching two perfect innings for a save as the Yankees took a 2–1 series lead.
Game 4
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
In the fourth, Jason Giambi doubled with one out, then scored on Bernie Williams's double. After Jorge Posada singled, Hideki Matsui's ground-rule double scored Williams. Aaron Boone popped out before Juan Rivera was intentionally walked to load the bases. Nick Johnson's double scored two more and knocked Johan Santana out of the game. Juan Rincon in relief allowed a two-run single to Alfonso Soriano, then walked Derek Jeter and Giambi to load the bases again. Eric Milton relieved Rincon and got Williams to ground out to end the inning. The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the inning on three consecutive singles off David Wells, the last of which by Michael Cuddyer scored Torii Hunter, but could not score again off Wells or Gabe White. The Yankees added a run in the eighth off LaTroy Hawkins when Boone hit a lead off single, stole second and scored on Juan Rivera's bunt single that was misplayed by Hawkins. Jeter's home run in the ninth off Eddie Guardado put the Yankees up 8–1 as they secured their place in the American League Championship Series with a blowout win.
