The Columbus Clippers topped the Louisville Bats 4-1 on Saturday at Huntington Park. Another solid pitching performance and good contact at the plate made the win far less dramatic than the Independence Day fireworks following the game. Here are our three takeaways from Saturday’s victory:

1.    Columbus starter Rorik Maltrud went to 2-0 on the season, allowing one run on a solo homer, while striking out six in his 5.0 innings of work. The bullpen threw the final four innings and did not give give up a run on only two hits. Ryan Webb faced the minimum of three batters in the sixth. Tommy Mace posted 1.2 shutout frames and Codi Heuer earned his fifth save of the season with 1.1 innings to close things out, including three strikeouts.

2.   Once again in this series, the Clippers, who have averaged more than nine strikeouts a game at the plate for most of the season, put the ball in play all night, posting only five Ks. Petey Halpin and Ralphy Velazquez each went deep with solo shots. C.J. Kayfus hit his first triple of the campaign and Bo Naylor recorded double number five. Milan Tolentino knocked in his 44th run of the season, only four behind team leader, Kody Huff.

3.   If the strikeouts have slowed down for Columbus hitters, the errors continue to be an issue when they take the field. On Saturday, the Clippers booted two, with Velazquez committing one in the outfield and Dayan Frias one at first base. Fortunately, they did not lead to any runs this time around and, in fairness, Velazquez recorded an assist in a play at second base.