Red Sox place James Paxton on IL with strained calf, suspend Jarren Duran and reinstate Brayan Bello

BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox placed left-hander James Paxton on the 15-day injured list Monday with a strained right calf, a day after he limped off the field in the first inning following a quick move trying to cover first base.

“MRI this morning, they got the results,” manager Alex Cora said before Boston faced Texas in the opener of a three-game series. “He’s in pain. We’ll see what happens.”

The 35-year-old Paxton turned quickly and was heading off the mound on Yordan Alvarez’s grounder to first baseman Dominic Smith. He looked back at the mound briefly, then went down to one knee and struggled to put weight on the leg when he got up.

“I felt like I got kicked in the calf. Then, I kind of turned around, took another step and I felt it again,” Paxton said after the Astros beat the Red Sox 10-2. “I was like: ‘It’s not good. It’s my calf.’ I felt it pop.”

Along with Paxton going on the IL, the Red Sox made a handful of other moves.

Monday’s starter Brayan Bello was reinstated from the paternity list, and they recalled lefty Bailey Horn from Triple-A Worcester.

Boston suspended outfielder Jarren Duran for two days without pay after he shouted a homophobic slur at a fan behind home plate who heckled him during the loss to Houston on Sunday.

They also selected right-hander Chase Shugart and catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper from Worcester.

In addition, they sent pitchers Brennan Bernardino and Brad Keller to Worcester and designated Jamie Westbrook for assignment.