After dominating the Twins and Angels in the early rounds of the American League playoffs, Alex Rodriguez’ postseason failings have resurfaced during the first two games of the Fall Classic.

Rodriguez is 0-8 with six strikeouts against Philadelphia so far.

His lack of contribution in game one helped the Phillies steal the first game. Luckily for him – and Yankes fans, starved for a winner after a whole decade without a World Series championship – three high-priced Bronx Bomber free agent acquisitions from this year and years past helped the Yanks salvage game two.

Matsui, a Yankee since signing a $21 million, three-year contract in 2001, led the team with a 2-3 night that included a home run and a walk.

Two of this year’s $423.5 million trio of free agents also came up big tonight. Mark Teixeira, who signed an eight-year, $180 million contract back in December, also homered.

A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract a few days after Teixeira (paltry by Yankees standards, probably because of the injury risk he carries), threw seven strong innings. He gave up just one run and struck out nine.

Those performances loomed large tonight after the highest of the high-paid free agents, CC Sabathia (seven years, $160 million – how do you think Burnett feels about that after tonight), pitched seven strong innings but was bested by Cliff Lee on Wednesday night.

For the record, players the Yankees actually developed (Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada – or just under half of the 11 position players who played tonight) went a combined 4-13 with one run and one RBI. Mariano Rivera pitched two innings for the save.

(Johnny Damon, who the Yanks lured away from the rival Red Sox for a $52 million, four-year deal in 2005, went 0-4.)

So the high-buck Yankees salvaged the split as the series heads to Philadelphia where the slightly less high-salaried Phillies will host the next three games starting Saturday.

Can’t hardly wait.