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.

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.

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.

Juan Rincon in relief allowed a two-run single to Alfonso Soriano, then walked Derek Jeter and Giambi to load the bases again.

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.

2003 ALDS (3–1): New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California The Red Sox went up 1–0 in the first on Todd Walker's two-out home run off Tim Hudson, but in the third, Erubiel Durazo drove in two runs with a double off Pedro Martinez before Durazo himself scored on a single from Miguel Tejada, who was tagged out at second to end the inning.

Oakland won it in the 12th when catcher Ramón Hernández laid down a two-out, bases-loaded bunt single off Derek Lowe, scoring Eric Chavez from third base.

Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts In Game 3, three errors in the second allowed the Red Sox to go up 1–0 on Damian Jackson's fielder's choice.

The Athletics went up 1–0 in the second on Jermaine Dye's bases loaded RBI single off John Burkett, but Johnny Damon's two-run home run after a walk in the third off Steve Sparks put the Red Sox up 2–1.

In the sixth, Burkett allowed a leadoff single to Scott Hatteberg, who scored on Adam Melhuse's triple one out later, then Dye's home run put the Athletics up 4–2.

The A's loaded the bases on three walks in the ninth inning, but temporary closer Derek Lowe struck out Terrence Long looking to end the game.

Boston's victory secured their place in the American League Championship Series while Oakland lost the ALDS after being up two games to none for the second time in three years.