Aim is to extend road run

DETROIT — After taking all three of the completed games at Comerica Park, the A’s are feeling a little better about themselves as they head to Cleveland to play the threetime defending AL Central champions.

“It’s been great,” right-hander Mike Fiers said after Sunday’s game was suspended by rain with Oakland leading 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh. “We’ve still got to finish this one, but to sweep a team, especially in four games, is tough. But to win three games so far is definitely huge for us coming off what we’ve been doing, being inconsistent. We’re starting to hit our stride.”

The A’s had lost three in a row entering the series at Detroit, and had dropped 11 of their previous 12 road games.

“It was a good series for us, bouncing back after a couple of tough ones in Seattle,” outfielder Stephen Piscotty said. “Hopefully we can carry this momentum over to Cleveland.”

The Indians (25-20) are second in the AL Central, they’ve had their share of injuries and Oakland took two of three from them at the Coliseum the previous weekend. There is no way the A’s are overlooking them.

“They always find a way to win games,” manager Bob Melvin said. Cleveland manager Terry Francona “does as good a job as anyone in baseball . ... You look at it overall, they’ve got a pretty deep lineup, switch hitters, lefties, they’re a dangerous team.

“Hopefully, they continue to sputter along ... they’re what, four or five games over .500? If that’s bad, we’ll take that. But they’re always one of the bigger challenges in baseball to play, especially at their place.”

The A’s will see Cleveland’s top starter, Trevor Bauer, in the second game of the series. Bauer allowed only two hits and two runs — neither of them earned — in a loss at Oakland on May 11, and he’s 1-3 against the A’s lifetime, but he has a 3.38 ERA against them, with 47 strikeouts in 40 innings.

“He doesn’t get enough credit for how diligent his game plan is,” said A’s outfielder Robbie Grossman, who saw lots of Bauer while playing for the Twins. “From at-bat to at-bat, his game plan changes. Say what you want about him, but I don’t think there are many pitchers more prepared than he is. He’s definitely figured out what works for him, how to attack guys and how to make in-game adjustments.”