Justin-Siena High School graduate Brett Wallace made his professional baseball debut with host Quad-Cities on Wednesday night, but a group of four Cedar Rapids pitchers almost stole the show.

Robert Fish, Sammy Leon, Ysmael Carmona and Tim Kiely combined to limit  Quad-Cities to one eighth-inning hit in a rain-delayed 9-3 victory over the Class A River Bandits, spoiling the career-opening effort of Wallace, the first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in last month’s draft.

“It wasn’t the winning game and 3-for-3 day at the plate with three doubles that guys dream of, but it was good to get out and play again,’’ Wallace said.

“It’s been a crazy couple of days — the best time of my life. To fly out here, meet the team and get my career started, it’s what I want to do.”

Wallace filled the designated hitter’s role in his professional debut, scratched from a start at third after a delayed arrival prevented him from taking grounders with the River Bandits prior to Wednesday’s game.

He did arrive in time to take a few cuts during batting practice before going 0-for-2 with two walks at the plate for Quad-Cities. Wallace popped out to second in his first at-bat and flew out to left in the eighth inning.

“I saw the ball better with every at-bat and I’m pleased with that,’’ Wallace said. “That’s what I was looking for out of this game.’’

The only thing separating Quad-Cities from being no-hit for the first time in 11 years was St. Louis’ first choice in the 2007 draft.

Pete Kozma denied the Kernels the chance to record Cedar Rapids’ first no-hitter since Ramon Ortiz no-hit Quad-Cities on Aug. 7, 1997, which is the last time the River Bandits have been held hitless in a game.

Kozma opened the eighth inning by slicing a single to right off Kiely, who had just entered the game.

Quad-Cities had put three runs on the board by that point, all in the second inning and all without the benefit of a hit.

Ten River Bandits had reached base before Kozma stroked the first pitch he saw from Kiely into right.

Kiely retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning, backed up by a defense which turned a pair of double plays which helped Kernels pitchers overcome six walks and two hit batsmen.

“Strange game,’’ Quad-Cities manager Steve Dillard said. “We hit some balls good, had plenty of chances because they walked some people. We just couldn’t get the big hit we needed.’’