A batter was trying to make contact with the ball? Holy shit! This insight is amazing! Tell me more! Was the pitcher trying to avoid the batter hitting the ball? Or did the pitcher want the batter to hit it? Me so confuse!!
Short swing, fast hands, IDK what they call it in your area. Dude is trying to simply get the ball in play. He was not trying to hit a homerun, or a sacrifice, which increases his chance of striking out. Aaron Judge strikes out consistently because he always bats for power.
The pitcher was actually trying to get the batter to hit a popup if you notice the at bat he tried to avoid the lower part of the plate.
Additionally, Gardner fouled at least 3 balls that were out of the strike zone in the second half of his twelve pitch at bat. He could have gotten a walk, but his goal was to get a hit over the infield.
It was a great at bat.