AMHERST TWP. — A minivan was completely destroyed in a fire that shut down the turnpike briefly this morning, according to the Highway Patrol.

Trooper Phil Ralston said the driver was eastbound at mile marker 137, which is between state Route 58 and Baumhart Road, about 8 a.m. when the Chevrolet Venture mini van, which was pulling a camper trailer caught on fire.

Another driver saw the flames and alerted the driver about the fire, and he was able to pull over, Ralston said.

The van became fully engulfed in flames, Ralston said, and is a total loss. The camper trailer had only minor damage. Ralston blamed the fire on a vehicle defect.

Firefighters from South Amherst and Florence Township responded.

Ralston said the eastbound lanes of the turnpike were completely closed for about 25 minutes, and one lane remained blocked for about an hour.

SHEFFIELD TWP. — LifeFlight is transporting a victim from a two-car accident that happened at North Ridge Road and Elyria Avenue in Sheffield Township a little before 10 this morning.

The woman, who is eight months pregnant, was eastbound on North Ridge in a silver Ford Taurus, according to State Highway Patrol Sgt. Charles Gullett.

Witnesses saw the Taurus run a red light and strike a PT Cruiser that was northbound on Elyria Avenue, he said.

It was unclear whether anyone else was hurt.

Rescue workers cut the door off the PT Cruiser, and both vehicles had extensive damage.

CHICAGO — Fausto Carmona figured out the Chicago White Sox just in time to keep the Cleveland Indians in second place.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Fausto Carmona throws during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on Wednesday. Carmona went 8 1⁄3 innings during the Indians’ 4-1 victory. (AP photo.)

Carmona allowed four hits over 8 1-3 innings and the Indians beat the White Sox 4-1 on Wednesday night. The win kept Chicago from passing the Indians and moving into second in the AL Central.

“I thought Fausto was magnificent,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He had a good power sinker working for him. Fifteen groundouts and just a fantastic job by him on the mound.”

The Indians had 12 hits against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (10-6), the most he has allowed this season. Buehrle had his streak of consecutive starts allowing three runs or less snapped at 18 games, allowing four runs in 7 1-3 innings.

“I was on a pretty good roll,” Buehrle said. “But everything has to come to an end sometime.”

Shin-soo Choo had three hits and drove in a run for the Indians, while Carlos Santana singled, doubled and scored a run. Choo is hitting .424 (14 for 33) lifetime against Buehrle.

“We were 3 for 8 with runners in scoring position and we were just glad that we were able to get those clutch hits,” Acta said. “That was enough for Fausto the way he was throwing the ball.”

Alexei Ramirez homered for the White Sox. Chicago’s Gordon Beckham grounded out with two runners on to end the game.

The Indians moved within two games of first-place Detroit, which lost 6-5 to Minnesota. Chicago remained 3½ games behind the Tigers.

The Indians won for just the second time in nine games against the White Sox this season.

“We battled Buehrle the whole night and fortunately we got those clutch hits,” Acta said.

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Chris Perez got the last two outs for his 26th save.

“At this time we’re just trying to get wins,” Perez said. “We’re trying to keep the mindset that we really don’t care what happened yesterday, we’re looking at today’s game.

“Buehrle’s had our number for a couple years since I’ve been here and he’s been on a pretty good roll since the All-Star break so we knew we’d be in for a little battle. Fausto pitched a hell of a game for us, especially when we needed it short in the bullpen like we were tonight.”

Carmona didn’t fare as well against the White Sox earlier this season, allowing 18 earned runs over eight innings in two earlier starts.

“As soon as I got up today I didn’t think about what happened in the past,” Carmona said through an interpreter. “I didn’t think about who I was going to face, I just knew I’d go out there and do my job.”

On Wednesday, he resembled the pitcher who had won all seven of his career starts against the White Sox coming into this year.

“(Carmona) was outstanding today,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He threw the ball pretty well. His sinker was good. This kid’s got good enough stuff when he’s on, it’s hard to get good at-bats against him.”

Carmona’s outing was a godsend for Cleveland, which had eight relievers throw 8 2-3 innings in Tuesday’s 8-7, 14-inning loss.

“It was very important, especially given that the bullpen needed rest,” Carmona said. “(I) was just pitching (my) game and how long it took, it didn’t matter.”

Carmona retired 11 straight hitters until Adam Dunn singled to left against an exaggerated shift with one out in the seventh. Beckham walked after Dunn’s hit to give Chicago two baserunners for just the second time in the game. Carmona got Brent Morel to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Carmona was pulled after walking Carlos Quentin with one out in the ninth and matched his season high with 118 pitches.

“We tried to give him a chance (for a complete game),” Acta said. “He was still throwing 94 mph with good life on his pitches. But we really didn’t want to give him a chance to get into any kind of trouble or bring in Perez without any kind of breathing room.”

Buehrle allowed at least one runner in each of the first five innings, but Cleveland bounced into two double plays and left six on base.

“Your goal is to go out there and throw a quality start,” Buehrle said. “Three runs, four runs, I think we still would have lost. You have to tip your cap to Carmona. His ball was moving all over the place.”

The Indians got the lead in the sixth when Santana doubled and scored on Kosuke Fukudome’s single to center.

The Indians upped the lead to three runs and snapped Buehrle’s streak with a two-run seventh. Choo stroked an RBI single and Asdrubal Cabrera drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Buehrle’s streak tied Frank Smith’s 1909 franchise record.

The Indians scored the game’s first run in the second when Jason Donald doubled and scored on Jack Hannahan’s single.

The White Sox tied it in the second on Ramirez’s leadoff homer.

With the regular season down to its final six weeks, both Cleveland and Chicago are faced with the task of playing while also wondering about Detroit.

“I watch the scoreboard all year long,” Buehrle said. “Not just (Detroit), but everybody. You’re looking up there and obviously rooting against the teams you need to lose.”

Acta said his team needs to keep its focus on the game at hand.

“I know that every game means a lot because we’re playing the White Sox and we’re going to play Detroit but there are so many games left that if we go day-by-day paying attention to that I’m going to get a heart attack,” Acta said.

Notes

• The White Sox have vacillated between a five- and six-man rotation for most of the season, but Guillen said rookie starter Zach Stewart will pitch out of the bullpen for the next few days, leaving the team with five starters for the time being. Guillen said he’s unsure when Stewart will start again. Indians rookie 2B Jason Kipnis missed his third straight game because of soreness in his right side. Acta said Kipnis took “heavy batting practice” on Wednesday and will return to the lineup Thursday.
• The Indians and White Sox play the series finale on Thursday. Cleveland’s Justin Masterson has a 1.99 ERA over his last 11 appearances, while Chicago’s Phil Humber is 0-4 with a 7.52 ERA over his last five starts. Chicago 1B Paul Konerko had a 12-game hitting streak snapped. Stewart made his first career relief appearance after five starts and struck out a career-best five in 1 2-3 innings.

BEREA — Jim Tressel was back on the sideline Tuesday morning, just blocks from where he grew up. But he didn’t blow a whistle, call a play or shout an instruction.

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel talks with Browns coach Pat Shurmur during practice in Berea on Tuesday. Wide receiver Juan Nunez is on the right. (AP photo.)

On a gorgeous day to watch football practice, that’s all the former Ohio State coach did. Tressel, who was forced to resign in May amid a scandal and cover-up that tarnished the university, stood between the Browns practice fields, surveyed the training camp action and chatted with president Mike Holmgren, coach Pat Shurmur, quarterback Colt McCoy and former rival Lloyd Carr, the retired Michigan coach.

Tressel looked like he was ready to coach, wearing black shorts, a white golf shirt, tennis shoes, sunglasses and a tan Browns hat. It must’ve been too hot for his trademark sweater vest.

Tressel was a head coach for the last 25 years at Youngstown State and Ohio State. A fan in the parking lot of Browns headquarters asked if he would coach again.

“I hope so,” he said on the way to a scarlet and gray car with nicely placed block O’s. “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

Tressel attended practice with former Browns defensive coordinator Dave Adolph and liked what he saw.

“He’s an impressive guy,” Tressel told The Associated Press regarding Shurmur. “He’s got a great mentor in Coach Holmgren.

“You could feel the energy around here. I was impressed with all the teaching going on. I’ve been to plenty of NFL camps where the guys are just standing around, lollygagging.”

Tressel had no idea Carr would be there as a guest of former Wolverine Aaron Shea, the Browns’ player liaison. At the end of the 2 1/2-hour practice, the former coaches in one of sports’ greatest rivalries — Tressel was 6-1 against Carr — shook hands and talked. They walked off the field together and had lunch in the cafeteria.

“From a personal and coaching standpoint, it was a tragedy,” Carr told The Associated Press of Tressel’s fall at Ohio State. “We all feel for Jim, and if I know him, he’ll rebound.”

Shurmur said he’s known Tressel and Carr for years and was glad to have them as guests. He said when he first got the Browns job in January he was mistaken for Tressel.

“Somebody in the kitchen said it’s the coach out in the restaurant,” Shurmur said. “So the waitress came up embarrassed and said, ‘Oh my gosh. I didn’t know you were here. It’s nice to meet you, Coach Tressel.’”

Shurmur talked quarterbacks with Tressel on Tuesday and took advantage of the opportunity to pick his brain.

“I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I know how to ask questions,” Shurmur said. “I really do love to interact with other coaches. There’s a natural wisdom that a lot of guys have. When you visit with them, it may not be obvious, but you learn things.”

Tressel was raised in Berea, where his father, Lee, coached Baldwin-Wallace College. He attended Browns practices and once held the ball for Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza. He remains a Browns fan and conveyed that to McCoy.

“I told him, ‘Hey, I grew up a couple blocks down the street. We need ya, buddy,’” Tressel said.
McCoy went 1-1 against Tressel and the Buckeyes while at Texas.

“To have coaches like that to come out here and watch practice and be around, that’s neat,” McCoy said. “I played against Coach Tressel a couple times in college, so we have a friendly relationship. I know he’s a big Browns fan, so that’s pretty cool.”

Tressel was asked if he’d be interested in a consulting job with an NFL team.

“Not right now,” he said. “I’m a fan. Always been a Browns fan.”

He’s a Spartan

Shurmur said Carr tried to recruit him to Michigan as an assistant for Bo Schembechler. Shurmur chose Michigan State and coach George Perles.

Did the Wolverines ever have a chance at landing Shurmur?

“Yeah they did,” he said. “I actually was born on campus there. My dad was a student when I was born.

“You could say they had a chance. It’s a great place, I just chose Michigan State. I kind of liked it better.”

Injury report

• Safety T.J. Ward returned to practice after missing Monday for a trip to the dentist.
• Running back Montario Hardesty made it through his second straight practice in pads. His left calf was wrapped after practicing for the first time in full pads Monday, but Shurmur said he “responded well” to the hitting.
• Shurmur said receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) is running in the pool and making progress. He has yet to practice in camp.
• Defensive lineman Brian Schaefering had his lower right leg wrapped and didn’t practice.
• Linebackers Scott Fujita (bruised thigh) and Chris Gocong (neck stinger), tight end Benjamin Watson (hamstring) and safety Usama Young (hamstring) sat out again.
• Shurmur said the knee surgery Monday on rookie safety Eric Hagg, a seventh-round pick, was to remove cartilage.
• Cornerback Coye Francies (back) and defensive tackle Travis Ivey (undisclosed) returned to practice. Francies appeared to aggravate the back near the end of practice when he fell after leaping to break up a pass.

Extra points

• The preseason opener was the highest-rated program in the Cleveland market since Game 6 of the NBA Finals on June 12.
• Rookie tight end Jordan Cameron made a one-handed catch on a pass behind him on a crossing route. He followed it up with an easy drop on a shallow cross, but recovered with several more catches in his most active practice.
• Middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson leaped high to break up a pass down the middle, testing his surgically repaired pectoral muscles. He got up and was fine.
• Undrafted rookie receiver Juan Nunez had his helmet come off but finished the play.
• Undrafted rookie receiver L.J. Castile reached high to make a catch, then took a hit in the midsection from safety Carl Gettis. Castile hung on.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.