PHILADELPHIA — It’s one thing for Phillies officials to say that they believe longtime starter Taijuan Walker can help solidify a shorthanded group of relievers.

But there’s only one way to know for sure.

So, when the bullpen door swung open before the sixth inning Tuesday night, it was Walker who stepped out onto the outfield grass and into a game in which the Phillies were leading by one run.

Four batters later, the lead was gone.

Walker gave up a two-run homer to the Cubs’ Ian Happ in what turned out to be an 8-4 loss — the Phillies’ 10th loss in 12 games — before 41,220 paying customers at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies (38-29) led 2-1 in the second inning on a two-run homer by Max Kepler. And although rookie starter Mick Abel allowed three home runs and lasted only four innings, they took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on Alec Bohm‘s two-run single.

But Walker and Joe Ross were touched for a total of five runs, enabling the NL Central-leading Cubs to retake the lead and then pull ahead.

Walker was making his third relief appearance since the Phillies moved him back to the bullpen 10 days ago. He tossed a scoreless inning in each of the previous two outings, an encouraging sign for a team that is looking for late-inning help.

But it was also only the 13th relief appearance of Walker’s 13-year major league career. He’s still developing a routine that will enable him to pitch on a reliever’s irregular schedule. Maybe he’ll find one. Maybe not.

The Phillies are committed to finding out before they scour the league for relief help at the July 31 trade deadline. And situations like the sixth inning against the Cubs are a test.

After getting the first batter of the inning to foul out, Walker got ahead in the count to rookie Matt Shaw before allowing a solid single to left field. The Phillies were unable to double up Reese McGuire, leaving a runner on first base before Walker left a belt-high cutter to Happ for a 5-4 Cubs lead.

The Cubs tacked on three runs against Ross in the eighth.

Earlier in the day, the Phillies learned that the persistent soreness in Aaron Nola’s right side is being caused by a stress reaction in one of his ribs.

In related news, Abel’s role is suddenly amplified.

With Nola’s nearly monthlong absence now extended by several weeks, Abel will get a longer look in the rotation. It’s a chance for the 23-year-old righty to begin making the impact that the Phillies imagined five years ago when they drafted him in the first round out of high school.

Abel’s third major league start didn’t measure up to the previous two. He allowed three homers — all solos — to Dansby Swanson in the second inning, Happ in the third, and Michael Busch in the fourth. And he struggled with command after not issuing a walk in his first two starts.

Busch smashed a fastball into the visiting bullpen to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead before Abel loaded the bases on two singles and a two-out walk. With the game at risk of being busted open like a piñata, the Phillies’ bullpen stirred.

But Abel struck out dangerous Kyle Tucker on his 30th pitch of the inning, an elevated curveball, and held the deficit to one run.

It loomed large in the fifth inning, when Brandon Marsh slid into second base with a leadoff double (he later left the game with a sore left elbow), Trea Turner singled, and Bohm drove them both in for a 4-3 lead.

Walker couldn’t hold it, though, failing his first test in his new role.

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