Phillies slip in race for NL’s top seed with loss to Cubs

PHILADELPHIA — Austin Hays feels like himself again, which is something he could not say for more than a month.

Hays believes he had been feeling the effects of a kidney infection since early August, when he landed on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring. He has played parts of seven seasons in the big leagues, so he knows how it feels when he is fatigued from playing.

This fatigue felt different. It felt worse. Hays was diagnosed with the infection in early September, got on antibiotics and waited a couple weeks to feel better.

Hays was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Tuesday night’s 10-4 loss to the Cubs at Citizens Bank Park, leaving him enough time to earn a spot on the Phillies’ postseason roster, where he could see time in left field against left-handed pitching and possibly more.

Hays went 1-for-4 with an infield single in the fourth inning.

Philadelphia (93-65) fell one game back of Los Angeles (93-63) — pending the Dodgers’ result against the Padres — in the battle for the top seed in the NL playoffs.

While the Phillies got their first look at Hays in a while, they also got another look at right-hander Taijuan Walker, who might have pitched his way off the postseason roster. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings in relief.