Duran directed the slur at a fan during Boston’s 10-2 loss to Houston on Sunday, an exchange caught on live TV.

Paxton, acquired from the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline, leaves with an injury in the first inning of Boston’s 10-2 loss.

Houston scores four times in the seventh inning to hand Boston its second straight loss.

Boston’s offense has bailed out its faltering starting pitchers, but the team is still in the wild-card mix with seven weeks left in the regular season.

Boston’s win streak ends at three and Kansas City increases its slim lead in the race for an AL wild-card.

Boston is a half game out of the third wild-card after beating Kansas City, 6-5.

James Paxton pitched six solid innings, Masataka Yoshida gets four of Boston’s 18 hits and the Red Sox pull to within 1 1/2 games of the final AL wild-card spot.

Liam Hendriks and Chris Martin could be back soon, bringing veteran experience to a relief staff that was already bolstered at the trade deadline.

Jarren Duran’s homer in the fifth gives Boston the lead in its 7-2 win.