Towards the end of another frustrating night at the plate for Los Angeles, Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba got into an altercation after Kemp's inning-ending strikeout that caused the benches to clear.

But the Dodgers recorded just four hits in seven innings off Rockies starter Jeff Francis, wasting a solid effort from Brad Penny in a 3-0 loss on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

"It's the heat of the game, you're passionate about what you do, and we've been struggling lately," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "I think it all played a part in actually both sides."

Added Kemp, "That might be a big, big part of it, but it's still not an excuse to act like that. It is frustrating, it is two teams that are losing right now trying to grind it out. Everybody hates to lose, and I guess it kind of shows right there."

The Dodgers have now lost nine of 12, and the Rockies had lost eight straight, and 13 in a row on the road, before the victory.

After swinging at strike three in the dirt Kemp made a move toward first, then turned around and found himself face to face with Torrealba. Kemp shoved him, Torrealba shoved back and the benches cleared.

"It happened too fast, it just was dumb on both of our parts, and basically it is what it is, so we'll see what happens after this," Kemp said. "If you think about it now, it's really stupid because it's not going to help your team win any; it's just going to make things a little bit harder."

Both players were ejected for their actions and face a possible suspension.

Kemp and the Dodgers were frustrated because Francis (2-5) looked more like the ace who won 17 games last season than the pitcher who's struggled so much this year.

He retired the final 10 Dodgers he faced and gave up just four hits in his seven scoreless innings. Only two Los Angeles hitters reached second during those seven innings, including Juan Pierre, who was picked off after a double leading off the game.

"We didn't really put a lot together, but that's the best he's pitched against us," Torre said. "He looked like he was able to do what he wanted to, fastball, changeup, just moved the ball around, breaking ball, and he certainly kept us from taking good swings."

That made for a disappointing night for Penny (5-7), despite throwing his first quality start in his last seven outings, yielding two runs on six hits and four walks. Penny has not won since May 2.

Penny said he felt good, particularly throwing his splitter, as he worked in and out of trouble all night. He got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth, giving up both his runs in the third.

"Any time you go out and throw the ball well and keep your team in the game, that's my job, so I feel like I did it tonight," Penny said. "It happens. You're going to go out there and put yourself in position to win, and you're going to get beat sometimes."

Torre said that Penny was unhappy he could not get that put-away pitch in the third, but other than that, the manager was happy with the way he went after the Rockies. Penny has now lost five of his last six starts with a no-decision in between. He had compiled a 9.43 ERA in his five previous starts before Tuesday's outing.

"I thought he was a lot more aggressive," Torre said. "I thought he was a lot more consistent tonight than I've seen him in a while."

Penny's outing turned out to be the lone bright spot of the evening, even though the Dodgers brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth before Blake DeWitt flied out to end the game.

But perhaps the Kemp-Torrealba incident could end up firing up a Los Angeles offense lacking much punch in recent weeks.

"The game is all about wanting to win, and things like that happen," Torre said. "You certainly want players to care a lot."

Torre does not think either player did anything purposely, instead describing it as a heat-of-the-moment situation.

With a suspension likely, Los Angeles would be without one of its hottest players in Kemp, who hit a pair of doubles and a home run on Monday, as it tries fight its way out of this slump.

"I think you need to show fire with your bat, not your fists," Kemp said. "You have to fire your team up in a different way, not that way."