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

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

Paxton, 35, quickly turned and left the mound when Yordan Alvarez hit a grounder to first baseman Dominic Smith. He looked back to the mound briefly, then sank to one knee and struggled to put weight on the leg as he got back up.

“I felt like I had been kicked in the calf. Then I turned around, took another step and felt it again,” Paxton said after the Astros game. defeated the Red Sox 10-2“I thought, ‘This is not good. It’s my calf.’ I felt it crack.”

In addition to placing Paxton on the injured list, the Red Sox have taken a number of other measures.

Monday’s starter Brayan Bello was activated from the paternity list and left-hander Bailey Horn was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Boston suspended outfielder Jarren Duran two days without pay after he shouted a homophobic insult at a fan behind home base who booed him during Sunday’s loss to Houston.

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

They also sent pitchers Brennan Bernardino and Brad Keller to Worcester and designated Jamie Westbrook for assignment.

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