Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig share words

DENVER -- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig got into a verbal altercation in the dugout during an 11-3 win over the Colorado Rockieson Monday night at Coors Field, a disagreement caught by the Rockies' TV cameras.

Kemp, who had struck out earlier in the sixth inning, was seen pursuing Puig the length of the dugout and yelling in his direction before manager Don Mattingly stepped between them and Kemp turned and walked up the tunnel toward the clubhouse.

Puig had walked during the inning, in which the Dodgers scored eight runs.

Kemp and Mattingly wouldn't reveal the topic of the disagreement, but it's possible Kemp was upset that Puig, one of the Dodgers' fastest runners, didn't take third base onAdrian Gonzalez's single to right field just before Kempbatted.

Mattingly made it sound as if it wasn't the first time tempers have flared among Dodgers teammates this season.

Several sources have described the clubhouse atmosphere as "dysfunctional."

But the team has functioned just fine on the field, with the Dodgers taking a four-game lead in the National League West into their final 12 games.

"Oh, just talking in the dugout, same old things," Mattingly said. "We're like the[Oakland] A's, the '72 A's."

The A's of the early 1970s won three straight World Series titles, but they were famous for their infighting. The most famous fracas was an all-out brawl between Reggie Jackson and Billy North in 1974.

Asked whether the Dodgers have had clubhouse brawls this season, Mattingly said, "I don't think so. I hope not."

Asked whether Kemp was upset with Puig after his walk, Mattingly said, "Just family stuff, family business."

Asked about the incident, Kemp changed the topic.

"A good game we played today, huh? Good game," Kemp said. "Go Dodgers!"