Heathcott goes on DL with right quad strain

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Ramon Flores had a feeling his time had come. The Yankees called and his feeling turned out to be correct.

''I was in the middle of batting practice in Scranton last night, expecting to play there,'' Flores said. ''I knew this was coming. I just had that feeling.''

Flores, who grew up a Yankees fan, made his way to Oakland via Philadelphia and Minneapolis. He landed Saturday morning.

''I feel like I am still dreaming,'' he said. ''I've been working hard for seven years to get here. Maybe tomorrow I will wake up and realize I am in the major leagues.''

Flores was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Saturday's game against the Oakland Athletics to replace outfielder Slade Heathcott, who went on the disabled list with a right quad strain, retroactive to Friday.

''He's used to being an everyday player,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ''Let's get his feet wet and be productive for us. His ceiling is pretty high, offensively and defensively. I can move him around but I'll use him in left field.''

Flores, in his seventh season in the Yankees' organization, was penciled into the lineup and will make his major league debut in left field and hit seventh.

''The level change may be more challenging but it's still baseball,'' Girardi said. ''I told him, `do what you do.'''

Heathcott, who made his major league debut earlier this season, was hitting .353 with a home run and three RBIs in six games.

Flores, who has played all three outfield spots, first base, shortstop and third base, was hitting .294 for Scranton. He has 125 doubles, 28 triples, 40 homers, 241 RBIs and 60 stolen bases in his minor league career. He's also caught a game in the Venezuelan Winter League.