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

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

Sport

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

2024-08-13 07:55 Last Updated At:08:00

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.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher James Paxton limps off the field between manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher James Paxton limps off the field between manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer check on starting pitcher James Paxton, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, left, and a trainer check on starting pitcher James Paxton, right, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A$AP Rocky turned down a final prosecution plea offer of 180 days in jail, risking the possibility of a guilty verdict and years in prison as jury selection began at his trial on Tuesday.

The agreement offered to the 36-year-old hip-hop star, fashion mogul and actor was to plead guilty to one of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Los Angeles County prosecutors would also recommend a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation and the six-month jail term.

But Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, told a judge he respectfully declined.

He is accused of firing at a former friend near a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and could get a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina also revealed for the first time in court Tuesday that the defense plans to call witnesses to testify that a firearm seen on a security video is a starter pistol that Rocky carried as a prop for security.

A panel of more than 100 prospective jurors were summoned to the downtown Los Angeles courtroom and packed into the gallery. Opening statements will come once 12 of them and alternates are seated. That won't be until at least Wednesday, when selection is set to resume. Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom starting with openings.

The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star's longtime partner is Rihanna, and the couple have two toddler sons together. Tacopina suggested that it's unlikely the pop star will show up in court.

Rocky has been named one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May, and has a major role in a Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington to be released soon after. But his life could be upended with a conviction.

Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold has said he hopes to seat a jury quickly, and is keeping strict limits on how long attorneys can question prospective jurors.

“Mr. Mayers is an entertainer," Arnold told the prospective jurors. "His stage name is A$AP rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna. Because Mr. Mayers is an entertainer, a celebrity, that cannot harm him, and it cannot benefit him."

Of the initial 12 jurors questioned, four said they knew who Rocky was, and 10 said they knew who Rihanna was.

In 2023, another judge ruled after a preliminary hearing that Rocky should stand trial on charges that he fired a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend who testified that their relationship had soured and a feud came to a head on the night of Nov. 6, 2021. Ephron testified that bullets grazed his knuckles.

Initial questioning on Tuesday revealed that the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires have affected many of the potential jurors' lives, including one woman who is fostering many displaced animals, and at least one man who had to evacuate. The judge himself revealed he had to evacuate from his home for 11 days.

“Luckily the house didn’t burn down," Arnold said.

One man was excused early in the process because he said his anti-gun feelings were too strong for him to be fair.

Tacopina tried to explore the potential jurors' feelings about hip-hop artists and their music, and several said they had negative feelings, though not overwhelming ones. Some cited parenting as the reason.

“I used to love it but then I had a kid,” one panelist said.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, questioning for the prosecution, told those with negative feelings, “You will not be called upon to render a verdict on how you feel about rap music, do you understand that?" All said yes.

Tacopina, who like his client Rocky is from New York and has represented President Donald Trump, also asked whether anyone on the jury is rubbed the wrong way by New Yorkers, bringing laughs throughout the room.

“When I get up here with this ridiculous accent, which I try not to have but I do, is anyone going to have a problem?" he said. “I will point out that we gave you guys the Dodgers a few years ago.”

No one conceded any negative feelings.

“I love LA," the lawyer added.

FILE - A$AP Rocky, left, and Rihanna attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on Sept. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - A$AP Rocky, left, and Rihanna attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on Sept. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky appears in a Los Angeles Superior courtroom on Aug. 17, 2022, where he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Rapper A$AP Rocky appears in a Los Angeles Superior courtroom on Aug. 17, 2022, where he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File)

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