Late-inning magic gives Nationals 2-1 win

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

April 05, 2012, 1:02pm

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CHICAGO - The Nationals had one hit and failed to score a run through the first seven innings of today's ballgame. They then scratched across one run with two outs in the eighth to tie the game, and got the winning run with two outs in the ninth. Ian Desmond went 3-for-5, including the game-winning RBI single in the top of the ninth that plated pinch runner Brett Carroll, giving the Nats a 2-1 win over the Cubs. Stephen Strasburg threw seven strong innings of one-run ball for the Nats, and manager Davey Johnson used his bench perfectly in the ninth to get the winning run across. Chad Tracy, brought in as a pinch hitter an inning earlier, ripped a double off the wall in right with two outs in the eighth, and Carroll came around to score the winning run on Desmond's single. Brad Lidge got the save for the Nats, preserving a victory for Tyler Clippard. How's that for an exciting way to start the season? Back with more from the clubhouse in a bit