As to the original question, isn't a strike charged to the batter for each legally pitched ball that is swung at by the batter and missed?
And a ball is charged if the pitch hits the ground before crossing the plate and is not swung at? It seems to me the batter struck out swinging - at a pitch that would have been called a ball and that was caught by the catcher. I am using the definition of "caught" as "the act of a fielder who, with her hand(s) and/or glove/mitt, securely gains possession of a batted, pitched or thrown ball."
And a ball is charged if the pitch hits the ground before crossing the plate and is not swung at? It seems to me the batter struck out swinging - at a pitch that would have been called a ball and that was caught by the catcher. I am using the definition of "caught" as "the act of a fielder who, with her hand(s) and/or glove/mitt, securely gains possession of a batted, pitched or thrown ball."