Royals raise AL Central championship flag

KANSAS CITY -- At 7:01 p.m. CT, just a few minutes before the series opener against the Indians on Friday night, the Royals hoisted the flag for their first American League Central crown.

The flag, the eighth postseason flag flowing at Kauffman Stadium, hung from a pole beyond the fountains in right field. Kansas City went on to drop a 6-0 decision.

As the flag rose up the pole, Royals fans erupted in cheers. The flag represents the team's first division title since 1985, the same year of the franchise's only World Series championship.

"It's an incredible accomplishment," general manager Dayton Moore said. "We've very proud and honored to have won the division. It's the result of very talented players, a dedicated coaching staff and an ownership committed to winning."

And, of course, the Royals' mission now becomes replacing that flag with one for a World Series title.

The Royals also painted an AL Central Division champions emblem on the face of their Hall of Fame building in left field.