Boston Loses Spring Opener, 7-4 As White Sox Knock Out 14 Hits

The Impossible Dream begin again according to script as the Red Sox opened the spring season with a dismal 7-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox yesterday.

Once again the bookies have forgotten the Red Sox: their pitching is too weak. Yesterday, Boston's heroes made the bookies look good. Chicago's hitless wonders knocked out 14 hits against three Boston pitchers.

The sad condition of manager Dick Williams' pitching staff is not improved by the cast on Jim Lonborg's leg. But then, the Sox didn't win the pennant on pitching strength last year. If Williams can coax another MVP performance out of Carl Yastrzemski, he could pull off another miracle.

Rubber Chickens

Yaz admits that his tour on the rubber-chicken banquet circuit this winter has left him out of shape. He has been bringing himself along slowly during the Florida workouts, but promises to be ready for the season's opener.

Tony Conigliaro is still struggling to complete his comeback from the beaning he suffered against the California Angels last August. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Billy, is playing in his spot.

Other scenes are the same as last year's. Reggie Smith still chases fly balls as if they were butterflies and veteran catcher Elston Howard still prays for base hits.

The brightest new man in camp is catcher Gene Oliver, who hit a three run homer to win the first intra-squad game. Pitcher Billy Rohr, who astounded the baseball world last spring with a one-hitter his first time out in the major leagues, is back trying to conquer the control problem that sent him to the minors. And starting first-baseman George Scott is once again struggling to work off winter weight.