MICHAEL PISTELLA Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer throws out a runner at third base during a rehabilitation appearance with the Fort Myers Miracle Wednesday night. The Miracle went on to beat the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-1 at Hammond Stadium.

The Fort Myers Miracle remain one game behind the St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League South Division standings, thanks to a 5-1 victory Wednesday night over the Palm Beach Cardinals at Hammond Stadium.

Miracle starter Logan Darnell pitched brilliantly and improved to 3-1 with seven scoreless innings. Darnell scattered five hits, allowing one run with one walk and two strikeouts while inducing 10 groundball outs.

The Cardinals (24-35) scored first in the third inning on a two-out, RBI single by Alan Ahmady. The Miracle (30-29) blocked more scoring when Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer gunned down Ted Obregon attempting to steal third base.

Mauer made his second appearance behind the plate and third overall with the Miracle while on his current rehabilitation assignment from the Twins. Given a second chance to show off his throwing arm later, Mauer caught Rainel Rosario stealing second in the sixth.

In the fourth, the Miracle capitalized on defensive miscues in a big inning. Twins shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka, making his second rehab start, led off the fourth with a double down the left field line. Nishioka went to third on a groundout by Aaron Hicks.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Minnesota Twins’ second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka played shortstop for the Fort Myers Miracle in a rehabilitation appearance Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

After Mauer grounded out, Nate Hanson doubled to left and Nishioka scored easily. The RBI is Hanson’s 29th of the season which leads the Miracle.

With two out, Cardinals starter Eric Fornataro should have been out of the inning when Derek McCallum hit a chopper to third base. After gloving the high-hop, Niko Vasquez dropped the ball in the exchange and McCallum reached safely.

Nick Romero then delivered a two-run double to the right field corner. Steve Liddle followed with a RBI single that gave the Miracle a 4-1 lead.

The Miracle added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning on McCallum’s RBI single after Mauer led off the inning with a base hit.

Miracle reliever Matt Hauser earned his first save with two scoreless innings.

The Miracle are back in action against the Cardinals at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.