OAKLAND -- For the better part of two weeks now, A’s pitchers have combined to perform as one of the better staffs in MLB by stacking together quality outings. Earlier in that stretch, wins were also piling up. A recent lack of run support, however, has bucked that trend.

Hogan Harris was Oakland’s latest young starter to turn in a strong effort, limiting a potent Phillies offense to two runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over six innings on Sunday afternoon. Yet the A’s came up short in a 3-2 defeat at the Coliseum, following up a season-best seven-game winning streak that was snapped earlier this week with their fifth consecutive loss.

Despite out-hitting Philadelphia 9-7, Oakland hitters went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight baserunners.

“Going 1-for-4 is better than the 1-for-19 we did [Saturday],” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We faced a really good pitcher today in [Zack] Wheeler. We grinded and got him out after the sixth, and he was fortunate to get out of that sixth with a double-play ball. But they’re a well-built club.”

Situational hitting is something Kotsay referenced as perhaps one of the more challenging aspects to master for an inexperienced group such as the A’s, and it has been a challenge during this losing stretch. The A’s have just six hits in their last 58 at-bats (.103) with runners in scoring position and have scored just 11 runs over their last five games.

In a three-game sweep in which the final two contests vs. Philadelphia were one-run games, those inefficiencies with runners on base made a difference in an otherwise tightly-contested series against the reigning National League champions.

“We really had a chance to win all three games,” Kotsay said. “If you asked me in April if I thought we would play that well, I would probably have a different answer. We continue to make improvements. We’ll continue to address the runners in scoring position and the at-bats that need to be taken to capitalize. If we can continue to improve in that area, we’re going to win more games.”

A’s pitchers have certainly turned a corner this month. Over the last 12 games, they’ve compiled a 2.97 ERA (37 earned runs in 112 innings), which is the second-lowest mark in that span behind only Tampa Bay’s pitching staff. This follows a miserable first two months that saw team ERAs of 7.97 in April and 5.54 for May.

Harris, Oakland’s No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been part of that turnaround. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 4.45, a mark that was originally inflated by one of the worst Major League debuts imaginable on April 14. Since then, Harris has allowed no more than three runs in each of his last five outings, holding a 2.57 ERA with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 28 innings over that span.

“Harris threw the ball great,” Kotsay said. “This kid is really executing his game plan and showing the poise that you don’t normally see from a young starter. Another nice outing for him today.”

Harris once again filled the zone, with 61 of his 96 pitches going for strikes. He basically shut down everyone in the Phillies lineup not named Kyle Schwarber, who went 3-for-3 against him with a pair of RBIs, including a solo shot to lead off the game. Cristian Pache’s double in the fifth was the only other hit off Harris in his six innings.

“It feels like he’s always on the attack,” A’s catcher Shea Langeliers said of Harris. “He does a good job of mixing speeds, and really just goes straight after guys. He doesn’t really mess around. Sometimes we get ahead in the count and he’s still throwing strikes, which is why they sometimes get hits. But you’ll take that over anything else. He’s aggressive in the strike zone. He’s done a good job.”

Harris’ outing continues the upward trend by Oakland’s starting rotation, carrying the proverbial baton handed over by James Kaprielian, who tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball on Saturday.

“It’s a confidence boost,” Harris said of the competition between A’s starters. “If Kap did well, I’ll do well. It just feeds off each other. We’re continuing to prove to each other that we’re all pretty darn good. Every game this series was really close. I think there’s a lot of positives to take from this.”