(My Sportsbook) - The Royals are undoubtedly the early-season surprise of 2003. Kansas City is the only unbeaten team in baseball at 7-0 and is off to its best start in franchise history.

The Royals' start is especially shocking considering their dismal 2002 campaign, which they finished with a franchise-worst 62-100 record. The team made little changes to its roster in the offseason and arguably its best player, Carlos Beltran, hasn't seen the field yet this season because of a strained right oblique.

It's early, but the Royals are drawing comparisons to AL Central rival Minnesota, which was the Cinderella story of the 2002 season. Working with a limited budget and a young core of home-grown talent, the Twins won the division with a 94-67 record last season and advanced to the ALCS before falling to Anaheim.

Kansas City is looking to accomplish a similar feat this year.

"Last year, it was 'another day, another loss'," Royals manager Tony Pena said. "This year, it's a little bit different."

The main reason for Kansas City's torrid start has been its pitching, as the Royals have an AL-leading ERA of 2.57. The no-name staff has allowed just 41 hits and two homers through 63 innings or work.

Opening Day starter Runelvys Hernandez has been setting the tone for the rotation. In his second year in the majors, Hernandez is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts. The 24-year-old has walked just two batters in 13 innings, while striking out eight.

In his first year as the team's closer, Mike MacDougal leads the majors with five saves and has yet to allow an earned run in five appearances. Last year, the Royals totaled only 30 saves, with the since-departed Roberto Hernandez leading the way with 26.

In its most recent outing, Kansas City came through with what is becoming a typical effort, as it held on for a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers Thursday.

The Royals owned a slim one-run lead before Raul Ibanez's two-run shot in the eighth give Kansas City an important three-run cushion, 4-1.

The Tigers got one back in the ninth. After two walks issued by MacDougal, Carlos Pena grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out, but MacDougal's throwing error enabled Bobby Higginson to score. However, MacDougal got Dmitri Young to ground out to end the game.

"This game was really symbolic of the way we're going right now," Ibanez said. "We had some things going against us, but we were able to scratch and pull out a win. It's an indication of the character on this team. We're just trying to find ways."

WHO'S HOT

More surprising than the Royals' start has been the offensive production of Brent Mayne. The 34-year-old catcher is batting a major league-best .522 with two homers, a .520 on-base percentage and a .826 slugging percentage.

WHO'S NOT

Leadoff hitter Michael Tucker is one of the few Royals struggling this season. The centerfielder is hitting just .200 with a .294 on-base percentage, no homers and two RBI.

COMING UP

The Royals swept the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Tigers through the first three series of the season and will face the same teams in their upcoming three sets. Kansas City's next seven games will be played away from Kauffman Stadium.