WASHINGTON - Alex Escobar's two-run single in the eighth inning capped a comeback for the Washington Nationals, who treated fans to handshakes and autographs at the stadium gates then went out and beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Friday night.

The Nationals led 4-1, then trailed 6-4 after Aramis Ramirez hit a tiebreaking two-run shot, his second homer of the game. But Washington scored three runs in the eighth off Bob Howry (3-3) after reliever Scott Eyre left with an apparent injury after facing one batter.

The rally began when Alfonso Soriano singled with one out. Marlon Anderson singled, Soriano stole third and Ryan Zimmerman drove him in with a sac fly to cut Chicago's lead to 6-5. After Nick Johnson singled to put runners on the corners, Escobar delivered his go-ahead hit. Escobar limped to the bag at first and was replaced by a pinch runner.

The rally came shortly after incoming team president Stan Kasten announced that the paperwork for Major League Baseball's $450 million sale of the Nationals to a group led by real estate developer Ted Lerner was completed. Control of the team will shift once a money transfer is completed Monday, Kasten said.

"Any remaining issues are complete," Kasten said, then turned his attention to the field, cheering as the two runners crossed the plate on Escobar's hit.

The game was the start of the "Grand Re-Opening Weekend," the new ownership group's bid to improve 45-year-old RFK Stadium and attract more spectators. Manager Frank Robinson joined several players in greeting fans and posing for pictures at the turnstiles; and several cosmetic changes were made to the ballpark, including new concessions stands. A crowd of 35,442 turned out, nearly 9,000 more than this season's average.

Ramirez hit an upper-deck solo homer barely inside the foul pole off starter Pedro Astacio in the second, then drove a low pitch to the mezzanine level in left-center off reliever Kevin Gryboski for his 19th homer that broke a 4-4 tie.

Washington built its early lead against Cubs starter Mark Prior, who was brought off the disabled list before the game. Things started poorly and got worse for Prior. He hit the first batter he faced, walked the next, then threw two wild pitches to allow the first of four runs he gave up over 3 1-3 innings.

Glendon Rusch gave way in the seventh to Roberto Novoa, who departed after walking Austin Kearns to load the bases with one out. Lefty Will Ohman came on, and the Nationals countered with pinch-hitter Luis Matos, but he fouled out. Ohman then got Felipe Lopez to fly out to left, ending the threat.

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