Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — It seems that a trip to the West Coast did not cool off the New York Yankees, despite the fact that they have a major league-high 13 players on the injured list.

Gary Sanchez hit a grand slam into the left-center bleachers, as part of a five run fifth inning and the Yankees would go on to defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 in front of 33,971 at Oracle Park.

It was the first career grand slam for Sanchez, his seventh home run of the season and his first since being activated from the injured list on April 24.

J.A. Happ pitched seven strong innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking no one and striking out two, as he won for the first time in 2019.

D.J. LeMahieu got the ball rolling for the Yankees in the top of the third inning, as he singled to left field off the glove of Evan Longoria that allowed Cameron Maybin to score from second base.

The Yankees blew the game wide open in the fifth inning, as Derek Holland got roughed up for a five-run inning, as Luke Voit was hit by a pitch that scored LeMahieu and then Sanchez launched his seventh home run of the season.

Cameron Maybin beat out an infield single to Yangervis Solarte, then after a Thairo Estrada single, Happ bunted into a fiedlers choice that retired Maybin at third base, then LeMahieu walked to load the bases, after a Voit hit by a pitch that saw LeMahieu score from third base, Sanchez hit a grand slam that lit up Oracle Park with the throngs of Yankees fans like the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Plaza.

The Giants as a team could not figure out Happ all day, as they got two hits off the left-hander and lost for the second time in a row against the Bronx Bombers.

Solarte finally got the Giants on the board, as he hit his first home run of the season off of Luis Sessa in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a three-run home run.

It was Solartes first home run as a member of the Giants, and his first home run since July 22, 2018, while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles.

Eric Kratz cut the Yankees down to 6-4, as he hit his first home run of the season, and it was the fifth career pinch hit home run for Kratz.

The last time Kratz hit a pinch-hit home run came on August 18, 2014 for the Kansas City Royals against the Minnesota Twins (Anthony Swarzak) at Target Field.

Buster Posey stayed hot, as he went 2-for-4 at the plate, and is hitting .345 (10-for-29) over his last nine games with four doubles and a home run and seven runs batted in.

NOTES: Brandon Belt moved to right field in the eighth inning, as it was the first time that he played in right field since April 23, 2017 and the fourth time in his career.

When Tyler Austin threw out Gleyber Torres at third base, it was the 10th outfield assist of the season for the Giants, breaking the tie for the most in the major leagues. Prior to the Austin assist, the Giants were tied with the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox and the Miami Marlins for the most in the majors with nine.

The Sanchez grand slam was the third that was allowed by Holland, and the first since July 2,2011, while pitching for the Texas Rangers. Hanley Ramirez, then playing for the Florida Marlins launched the grand slam against Holland.

Voits streak of reaching base was extended in that fifth inning when he drove in a run, as he reached on a hit by a pitch by Holland. It was the 37th consecutive game that Voit reached base, and is the second longest streak by a Yankees player since the start of 2005, when Mark Teixeira reached in 42 straight games from June 6-July 26, 2010.

Steven Duggar injured his right wrist when he went for that D.J. LeMahieu foul ball when he ran over the bullpen mound in the top of the first inning of Fridays game.

Tried to balance myself, said Duggar.

UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez looks to stop from sweeping the series, as he looks to improve to 4-2 on the season, while Domingo German looks to move to 5-1 on the season for the Yankees.

This will be the first career starts for each starter against their opponents.