Kansas City Royals Team Report - April 21st

(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals have had 13 straight Aprils in which they have had a losing record, a stat that will come to an end in 2003 thanks to a mark of 14-3 with only eight games to play before May.

On Sunday the American League Central leaders posted a 4-3 win over the hapless Detroit Tigers, gaining a three-game sweep of the club at home after having taken two in a weathered-shortened series at Comerica Park earlier in the month.

Desi Relaford scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a Carlos Pena throwing error, as the Royals continued their red-hot start to the season with a one-run win over Detroit at Kauffman Stadium, despite having just four hits on the day.

Joe Randa had a home run and three RBI in the contest for the Royals, who improved to 8-0 at home this season and are the only team in the major leagues that has not yet lost at home.

Mike MacDougal earned his first major league victory after working out of a jam in the ninth. Miguel Asencio started and lasted six innings, giving up three runs on nine hits for the Royals, who improved to a franchise-best 14-3 to start the season.

Kansas City, which will send Runelvys Hernandez to the hill on Tuesday to begin a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at home, has the best pitching staff in the AL entering the week with a combined 3.01 ERA. Kansas City hurlers are also holding opposing hitters to an average of just .226 and have allowed 12 home runs.

Hernandez is a big reason for that mark thanks to his 1.04 ERA over four appearances that have provided him with a 3-0 mark on the season as well. The 24-year old righthander gave up more than run for the first time this year in his last outing, surrendering two earned through six innings, but he was not on the hook for the 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Off the field on Sunday the Royals placed starter Jeremy Affeldt on the disabled list prior to the game and recalled reliever Jeremy Hill from Triple- A Omaha.

04/21 13:54:11 ET