After winning two games against the visiting Louisville Bats to open their six-game series Wednesday, the Columbus Clippers lost to the Bats 4-2 on Thursday. Kahlil Watson and George Valera each drove in a run, while the Clippers’ bullpen did not yield a score. Here are our three takeaways from Thursday’s contest:

1.    We’ve talked about it before, but when the Clippers have a game where they strike out a lot, commit errors, and give up early runs, they do not win (and who does, really?). On Thursday, they struck out 12 times, with eight of their 10 batters whiffing. Milan Tolentino struck out in all four of his plate appearances. Columbus committed only one error but it led to an unearned run in a tight game. Starter Austin Peterson allowed all of the Louisville runs in his 5.1 innings of work. There you go.

2.   The Columbus relief corps has picked up their collective game. Against the Bats Thursday, they threw the final 3.2 innings in scoreless fashion, allowing only one hit and no walks. Daniel Espino, who has found his control, struck out two in the sixth inning with 97 and 98mph fastballs and sliders in the low 90s. He did throw one curveball that traveled 73mph. How do you hit that?

3.   Going back to the strikeout thing (sorry). Speaking from an old-school perspective, it would be nostalgic to see Triple-A hitters generally have a plan at the plate that adjusts to the pitcher and the game situation, rather than just whaling away on what they hope is a fast ball on their swing plane. Would it be too much to ask a batter to take a pitcher the other way when he is consistently working the outside of the plate against him, especially with two strikes?! OK, that’s it.