HOUSTON -- Through two starts this season -- both against the A’s -- Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr.’s pitching lines have been nearly identical. Each time he’s gone five innings and allowed two hits, one run and three walks. And each time, an extended inning has cost him a chance to work deeper into the game.

McCullers, who had a 33-pitch first inning en route to a 95-pitch effort in his first start of the season Saturday in Oakland, was pulled after throwing 88 pitches in the Astros’ 6-2 loss to the A’s on Friday night at Minute Maid Park. The only run McCullers allowed was on a leadoff homer to Jed Lowrie in the fourth.

It was in the fourth that McCullers threw 32 pitches, including a pair of walks and an error by shortstop Carlos Correa on a potential double-play ball. That kept the frame going, but McCullers pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam by getting a great diving stop from first baseman Yuli Gurriel to get a forceout at the plate and then striking out Aramis Garcia.

“I worked really hard in between starts and put myself in a position physically where I really feel like I have a solid 105 [pitches], 110 in me,” McCullers said. “I understand the game plan and matching up and all that kind of stuff, but I always feel like, ‘Man, I really had at least one more solid inning in me.’”

McCullers came out of spring camp feeling like he was in the best position mentally and physically that he’s been in during his career, and that was on the heels of signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension. He understands the Astros’ decision to yank him after five innings Friday, but the competitor in him wanted to keep going.

“I just want to be out there all night,” he said. “I’ve got to wait too long between starts.”

Through eight games, only one Astros starting pitcher has worked into the sixth inning. Zack Greinke threw six innings on Opening Day and followed that up with seven on Tuesday against the Angels. Houston’s bullpen has had to carry a lot of load otherwise. Lefty reliever Blake Taylor gave up a three-run homer to Matt Olson in the eighth Friday and Joe Smith allowed a two-run homer to Mark Canha in the ninth.

“We thought McCullers had enough because he had that 32-pitch inning that took a lot out of him,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We wanted [him] to go deeper. We just made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them. That was the ballgame.”

In all, McCullers said his stuff was “excellent,” except for the errant curveball to Lowrie and walk to Matt Chapman in the fourth. Being more efficient and getting deeper into the night will be his next challenge.

“I felt I was locating extremely well, my offspeed was working,” he said. “When I had to dig deep, I had 96 [mph], 97 in the tank. I located well and had 88 pitches through five. I felt pretty solid where I was at. Hopefully some quicker [innings] and stuff, and I’ll be able to go six.”