(AP) -- After Stephen Strasburg dominated for seven innings, Ian Desmond singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth Thursday to give the Washington Nationals a season-opening 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Strasburg, starting his first opener, allowed one run and five hits, struck out five and walked one.
He reached 98 mph when he struck out Starlin Castro in the sixth.
Tyler Clippard (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth to win in relief, and Brad Lidge got the save.
Ryan Dempster, also making his first opening start, struck out 10 in 7 2-3 innings for the Cubs as they played their first game since Theo Epstein was hired away from Boston.
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