BOSTON -- Catcher Kevan Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with back spasms on Sunday, and fellow backstop Anthony Bemboom was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his spot on the roster.

Smith’s back started acting up after catching Monday’s game in Cincinnati and it finally got to the point on Sunday that the Angels had to make a roster move, according to Angels manager Brad Ausmus.

“It seemed to go away but it flared up again,” Ausmus said. “So, we had to put him on the IL.”

Smith, 31, is hitting .246/.331/.369 with two homers, nine doubles and 12 RBIs in 43 games. This is his third stint on the IL this season, as he missed 15 games with a concussion in late May and also missed 17 games with a left hand sprain in late June.

Ausmus said he doesn’t believe this will be a long stint for Smith, and the Angels are hopeful he’ll be able to return once eligible on Aug. 21.

Meanwhile, Bemboom joined the Angels for the first time since he was purchased from the Rays on July 16 and immediately contributed with a game-winning 10th-inning RBI single in the Angels' 5-4 win over the Red Sox on Sunday. He entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning to replace Justin Upton, who had pinch-hit for starting catcher Max Stassi.

Bemboom, 29, got his first taste of the Majors with Tampa Bay in May, going 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in three games. But he suffered a knee sprain on May 15 that kept him out of action until June 26.

He's fared well at Triple-A Salt Lake, hitting .410 (16-for-39) with two homers and 10 RBIs in 11 games. Including his time with Triple-A Durham, Bemboom, who bats from the left side, has hit .283/.336/.453 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 31 games at the Triple-A level this year.

Ramirez, Middleton begin rehab assignments

Relievers Noe Ramirez (viral infection) and Keynan Middleton (Tommy John surgery) both began rehab assignments with Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Saturday night. Ramirez threw a scoreless inning while walking one, while Middleton recorded two outs via strikeout but walked two.

“They both felt good,” Ausmus said. “Noe has another [rehab appearance] tomorrow. Keynan, I’m not sure when he’s going again. He’ll need a couple more.”

Ramirez could be activated after his second rehab outing on Monday but will have to immediately begin serving his three-game suspension for hitting Jake Marisnick with a pitch on July 16. The Angels plan to time it so that Ramirez will be reinstated the day after pitching in a rehab assignment because he wouldn’t be available to pitch his first day back anyway. Nonetheless, the Angels will have to play short-handed with a 24-man roster for three games while Ramirez serves his suspension.

Middleton is expected to need four to five rehab appearances before he’s ready to be activated from the 60-day IL. It’s his second rehab assignment, as he suffered a setback in mid-July with a nerve issue in his elbow that has since subsided.