Rivera again struggled in a non-save situation, giving up a run for the third straight time no save was involved, and fourth in the last six. Rivera is 26-of-26 in save chances.
After walking Mark Teixeira to start the inning, Rivera (4-4) gave up a single to Vladimir Guerrero to put runners at the corners before Hunter lined a single up the middle to score pinch-runner Reggie Willits. Hunter pumped his fist on the way to first.
The Angels began the day 12 1/2 ahead in the West, their largest lead in club history. They are 12-2 since the All-Star break.
Los Angeles is 7-1 on its current road trip through Baltimore, Boston and New York.
New York lost for the fifth time in six games. The Yankees began the day 4 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Santana (12-5) struck out eight to snap a two-game losing streak. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his major league leading 45th save in 48 chances.
Yankee starter Sidney Ponson allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, his best start since joining the team in June.
He held the Angels hitless through four innings, but Garret Anderson singled to lead off the fifth. The 31-year-old pitcher walked four and struck out one.
Both teams wasted prime scoring opportunities multiple times. The Yankees put the leadoff batter on in four of the first six innings without scoring. The Angels did it three times in the first six frames.
The Angels loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Ponson got Chone Figgins to hit an infield fly, and got out of the inning when Maicer Izturis flied out.
