Davis, Mudcats slam M-Braves in Game 2

Davis smacked a grand slam and an RBI double to lead the host Mudcats to a 6-3 win over the Mississippi Braves.

The victory knotted their best-of-5 Championship Series, 1-1. The series returns to Mississippi for Game 3 on Thursday.

With the Mudcats trailing in the fourth inning, 3-0, the 25-year-old catcher connected on a grand slam to left to put his team ahead for good. Davis also ripped an RBI two-bagger to right in the sixth to cap the scoring.

In the critical fourth, Carolina's Chris Coghlan walked and Gaby Sanchez singled. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt by Cameron Maybin forced Coghlan at third, Scott Cousins walked to load the bases. Lee Mitchell fanned, but Davis -- who had six homers and 28 RBIs over 81 games during the regular season -- followed with his blast.

"I was very excited (the slam)," Davis said. "I hit a grand slam with two out to give our team the lead in a playoff game. You can't ask for much more than that.

"I hit a 2-0 fastball," he added. "The bases were loaded and they couldn't pitch around me, and I got one in the hitting zone."

The Mudcats added to their lead when John Raynor opened the fifth with a homer to left.

Aaron Thompson (2-0) allowed three runs on six hits, fanning three and walking one over five frames to pick up the win. Chris Mobley gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth to close it out for his second save.

"This was huge for us, to be able to go back to Mississippi 1-1, instead of down two," Davis said. The Braves, who won Monday's opener, 5-4, snapped a scoreless tie the third on a two-run homer by Matt Young and a solo shot off the bat of Kala Ka'aihue.

Todd Redmond (1-1) surrendered six runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking three over six innings to take the loss.