CLEVELAND – This wasn’t the start new coach Pat Shurmur envisioned for his Browns in the season opener. He was hearing boos from the home crowd by the end of the first quarter.

His young team committed seven penalties in the first quarter, got a single first down and trailed the Cincinnati Bengals 10-0 after 15 minutes today at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Quarterback Colt McCoy rolled out on the first play of the new season and had his pass to tight end Benjamin Watson batted back in his face by defensive end Robert Geathers. McCoy instinctively caught it for a 5-yard loss.

The Browns punted two plays later, and Richmond McGee shanked it off the side of his foot for 20 yards. It was McGee’s first kick in a regular-season NFL game.

The Bengals capitalized with a 10-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard Mike Nugent field goal. Cincinnati used a lot of handoffs to running back Cedric Benson to take some pressure off rookie quarterback Andy Dalton. Cincinnati picked on rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard and linebacker Chris Gocong, who didn’t play all preseason with a neck stinger.

The Browns helped with a holding penalty on cornerback Sheldon Brown and a neutral zone infraction on Sheard. But cornerback Joe Haden forced a field goal with consecutive breakups in the end zone.

Cleveland’s second possession wasn’t any better. More penalties contributed to a third-and-24, following a third-and-16 on the opening “drive.” Taking the cake was an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Browns bench for knocking down an official.

The Bengals started on Cleveland’s 41-yard line again, and this time scored a touchdown on a 2-yard Dalton pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham.

ELYRIA – A Lorain man died early Saturday morning following an accident in which his truck went off the road, struck a tree and burst into flames.

Marc A. Youngless, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after
1 a.m. by Lorain County Deputy Coroner Eric Lockhart, who said the man died of asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. Lockhart said the man also suffered significant burns in the crash.

The Elyria post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said Youngless was southbound in a black 1991 GMC pickup on Baumhart Road about two-tenths of a mile south of Cooper Foster Park Road about 12:45 a.m. when he veered off the right side of the road.

The truck struck a ditch and culvert before traveling on into a yard where it struck a tree. The pickup burst into flames following the impact, the patrol said.

Youngless was alone in his vehicle.

Vermilion Fire Department firefighters responded to the scene, where they extinguished the fire in short order, according to Lockhart. “The vehicle was immediately in flames.”

Lockhart said he performed toxicology tests at the scene but results would not be available for a few days.

Authorities listed an address on Broadway in Lorain for Youngless that corresponded to a small mobile home park near Clearview High School.

However, Lockhart said Youngless was apparently living with his father, Robert Youngless, in the Amherst area at the time of the accident.

“I questioned why he was on Baumhart Road at that time if he resided on Broadway, and his father said he was probably coming back to stay with him,” Lockhart said. “That would be on the way to his father’s address.”

Marc Youngless was divorced and had a daughter, according to Lockhart.

“His dad said he was unemployed but was seeking work,” Lockhart said. “In fact, he said his son had had a job interview earlier that same day (Friday).”

The man’s father said Youngless was an electrician by trade, according to Lockhart.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

ELYRIA – A North Ridgeville teenager died Saturday afternoon after he was struck by a van while riding his bicycle across state Route 57 at East Broad Street.

Alexander B. Sismour, 14, died of multiple injuries to his head and body, according to Lorain County Deputy Coroner Frank Miller. The boy was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m. in the emergency room of EMH Medical Center in Elyria as medical personnel worked to resuscitate him, Miller said.

The teen died about an hour after he was struck by a woman driving a blue 2001 Dodge Caravan minivan on Route 57. The driver, who was identified in police reports as Stacy R. Stanford, 45, of Elyria, was released after being questioned at the scene by police, according to Lt. Phil Hammonds. No charges had been filed, but the woman’s vehicle was impounded as part of the accident investigation, according to Hammonds, who was called to the scene of the crash, which occurred at 3:48 p.m.

According to police reports, Sismour and a couple of other youths were westbound on their bicycles on East Broad Street. “It appears he was going east to west across the road (Route 57) from East Broad Street at the time,” Hammonds said.

Stanford, who had her 10-year-old daughter in the van with her at the time of the accident, police said, was northbound and approaching the intersection when her vehicle and the bicyclist collided.

“It appears there were three (youths) total and the other two had already crossed,” Hammonds said. “They (Sismour’s companions) were not in the roadway at the time. He (Sismour) may have been the last to cross. From the initial investigation it appears the woman had the green light.”

Reports said Sismour had stopped his white mountain bike in the crosswalk before he began to cross Route 57. He then stopped between the inner and outer northbound lanes of 57, leading Stanford to swerve into the outer lane to avoid hitting the teen. Police said the driver’s front side of the minivan struck the rear tire of the boy’s bike.

The woman’s speed was listed as 50 mph, which was the posted speed limit, police said. Neither Stanford nor her daughter was injured, according to reports.

Miller said the boy is survived by his father, Brian Sismour, but he had no other immediate information about other family members.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

CHICAGO – If September is the time for a player to demonstrate his qualifications, Lonnie Chisenhall is building a solid case for next season.

Chisenhall hit a pair of two-run homers and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 Friday night.

Chisenhall, Cleveland’s rookie third baseman, set career highs with his two homers and four RBIs as the Indians snapped a four-game losing streak.

“Lonnie Chisenhall had a big day, especially considering the way he has struggled against lefties,” Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Ezequiel Carrera, Kosuke Fukudome, Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson had two hits apiece for the Indians. Carrera and Fukudome each drove in two runs.

Jeanmar Gomez (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings and improved to 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA in three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 30.

“We have struggled as of late,” Acta said. “Gomez today stepped up and stopped our four-game losing streak. He threw the ball very well, with movement, good sink on his fastball.”

Gomez went 0-2 with a 5.70 ERA in five outings before being sent down
July 18. The results since his return have been promising.

What’s been the biggest difference?

“Fastball command,” Acta said. “Also, he made some mechanical adjustments down there. He’s gotten a little bit more velocity on his fastball.”

White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (11-8) had his second straight rough outing, allowing seven runs and eight hits over 52⁄3 innings.

“It was another one of those days,” Buehrle said. “I know I made a bad pitch in the sixth inning, left an 0-2 curveball hanging. That was pretty much the game right there.”

After entering the game just 3-for-22 with two homers against lefties this season, Chisenhall homered twice against Buehrle, who has won more games than any southpaw not named CC Sabathia over the last decade.

“He’s done great things for the White Sox,” Chisenhall said. “To hit a home run off him, he’s a great pitcher, so I’m definitely going to remember it.”

Chisenhall got the Indians on the board first, launching a first-pitch drive over the picnic area in right field.

The rookie third baseman went deep on an 0-2 pitch in the sixth to almost the same area in right, putting Cleveland ahead 4-2. That gave Chisenhall his first two-homer game and his first game with more than two RBIs.

“The more he sees (lefties), the better he’s going to get,” Acta said. “He’s a guy that projects not to be a platoon guy.”

Before the game, Acta spoke of Cleveland’s need for better production from its corner infield positions next season, whether it comes from within the organization or outside. Chisenhall, 22, has been one of the Indians’ top prospects for a couple of seasons and may be ready to solve half of that dilemma.

“He’s going to get there,” Acta said. “We have to think, this kid is only 22 years old. He only played three years of minor league baseball. It’s going to take him some time.”

Chisenhall duplicated the feat of his White Sox counterpart, third baseman Brent Morel, who had his first multihomer game in Chicago’s 8-1 win Thursday night. He’s now hit three homers over his last three games, doubling his season total.

“Two home runs and winning is pretty fun,” Chisenhall said.

The Indians tacked on three more runs in the decisive five-run sixth. Carrera singled in a run, chasing Buehrle. Fukudome then singled in two runs off reliever Will Ohman, with both runs charged to Chicago’s starter.

Buehrle gave up seven earned runs for the second straight start after giving up four runs or fewer each of his 21 previous starts.

Beckham had two hits and scored two runs for the White Sox, but struck out looking with two runners in scoring position to end the game, keeping the night’s focus on Chisenhall, who is going to get plenty of playing time down the stretch.

“Chisenhall is playing,” Acta said. “We’re planning on playing Lonnie a lot.”

Notable

The Indians recalled 1B Matt LaPorta from Triple-A Columbus on Friday. LaPorta started 87 games for Cleveland this season before being optioned to Columbus on Aug. 30.

TODAY

• WHO: Cleveland at Chicago
• TIME: 4:10 p.m.
• WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field
• PITCHERS: Carmona (6-14, 5.18 ERA) vs. Humber (9-8, 3.45)
• TV/RADIO: Channel 8; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM