MILWAUKEE -- Brad Nelson has the game ball from his first Major League hit. All he needs now is a place to display it.

"It might be time to move out of mom and dad's place," joked Nelson, who earned that game ball with a double on Tuesday night.

That's especially true since Nelson is engaged to be married in November. He and his fiancée, Jill, might settle in Iowa City, where she has family.

Nelson's baseball home next season may also be up in the air. The Brewers spent his final Minor League option at the end of Spring Training, and with Prince Fielder a fixture at first base, and Ryan Braun and Corey Hart set in the corner outfield spots, it appears Nelson doesn't have a place to play in Milwaukee.

"That's the way it seems it's been every year," Nelson said. "It's like, what do you do? Just hit. I had a good year last year to get back on the [40-man] roster, and then had a pretty good year this year to get here. Whatever happens now is going to happen.

"I don't know if I'll be wearing a different uniform next year or not."

Nelson was among 10 players promoted to Milwaukee when rosters expanded Sept. 1, the biggest crowd of callups that longtime equipment manager Tony Migliaccio could recall. Another, shortstop Alcides Escobar, notched his own first Major League hit in the ninth inning on Wednesday, a bloop single to left field.

Third baseman Mat Gamel and catcher Angel Escobar also made their big league debuts in Wednesday's loss, but few of the Brewers' callups figure to see extended playing time this month as the team seeks its first postseason bid in 26 years.

They will be back on the bench Thursday night for the opener of a four-game series against the Padres, who sit in last place in the National League West. The Brewers won two of three games in San Diego last month.

Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (10-7, 4.49 ERA)
Suppan capped a stellar August with a seven-inning, two-run performance against the Pirates. The right-hander finished the month 5-0 and struck out twice as many batters as he walked. Suppan said he used the movement on his fastball to his advantage and mixed in a changeup to keep hitters off-balance. He'll need to do the same against the Padres, against whom he is 5-3 with a 5.66 ERA in his career.

SD: LHP Shawn Estes (1-1, 3.33 ERA)
Estes, out since May 29 with a fractured left thumb, was activated from the disabled list on Monday. The 35-year-old Estes will be a free agent after the season, and the Padres want to get a look at him in September as they move forward with an eye on 2009. Estes is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in five games this season, including four starts.

Tidbits
The final Autograph Friday event of 2008, originally scheduled for this Friday at Miller Park prior to the game against the Padres, has been canceled. ... J.J. Hardy went 2-for-3 on Wednesday and has a hit in 16 of his last 17 games. ... Including their three losses this week to the Mets, the Brewers have been swept five times this season. ... The Brewers remain one win shy of 3,000 as a franchise. They are 2,999-3,324-4 since 1969. ... Dave Bush's loss on Wednesday was the first hung on a Brewers starter in 12 games.

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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
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•  Official game notes

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On radio
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Up next
• Friday: Brewers (CC Sabathia, 15-8, 2.82) vs. Padres (Josh Geer, 1-0, 3.60), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Brewers (Ben Sheets, 12-7, 2.97) vs. Padres (Jake Peavy, 9-9, 2.69), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Brewers (TBD) vs. Padres (Chris Young, 4-5, 4.91), 1:05 p.m. CT