"So when is a strikeout not an out?
When the ball touches the ground, in which case the catcher must either tag the runner or throw him out at first base to make it count."
According to them, the pitch was in the dirt in which case the catcher should have either tagged the runner or thrown him out. He didn't. No play was made so the ump couldn't make a call, could he? Unless there is some vital piece of information I'm missing. Correct me if I'm wrong.