ESPN’s stat guru Mark Simon just passed this along to me, and I’m passing it along to you guys… Mo’s greatest escapes. Mark had to be inspired by last night’s performance and here are some of Mo’s best escapes, on the highest of high-wire, pressure-filled situations. Which ranks the best? What’s missing?

October 4, 1995, ALDS Game 2 vs Mariners

Rivera’s first postseason effort set the standard for what followed. In 3 1/3 innings of relief in a tie score, Rivera allowed no runs and whiffed five.

In the top of the 15th, he escaped a two-on, one-out scenario by striking out Doug Strange and getting Tino Martinez on a fly out. Three batters later, the Yankees were winners on Jim Leyritz’s walk-off home run.

October 16, 2003, Game 7 of ALCS vs Red Sox

This one didn’t require any heavy-duty escape acts, but it’s viewed as Rivera’s signature performance. Over three innings and 48 pitches in the most pressure-packed situation possible, Rivera allowed no runs and two harmless hits.

After Aaron Boone hit his walk-off, pennant-winning home run, Rivera did the appropriate thing to celebrate. He ran out to the pitcher’s mound and kissed it. [EDIT: The picture up top is from that celebration]

July 5, 2008 vs Red Sox

OK, this one didn’t start so impressive. Rivera, protecting a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning, allowed the first four batters to reach, and he hit two of them, including Kevin Youkilis, to force in a run and load the bases with nobody out.

Rivera rose to the challenge, just as he did on Wednesday. Coco Crisp struck out swinging on three pitches. Jason Varitek got up 2-0, but mustered only a popup to first base. Julio Lugo, the Red Sox last hope, went down meekly, striking out on a 2-2 pitch. Final score, Yankees 2, Red Sox 1.