Shortstop Jose Reyes said his wife and daughter were in the family room when the fight occurred.

"I don't know exactly what happened," Reyes said. "You don't want to see that happen, especially here at the ballpark. I hope he comes clean about what happened because we need him here."

Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur's wife was in the lounge.

"I think it happened more outside, I think, not directly in the family room," he said.

Rodriguez has had previous confrontations with a team official, a coach and an opponent in his 1½ seasons with the Mets, though none reached this level.

"Maybe it's a distraction we need," Francoeur said. "Not to say it's a good thing. But maybe at the end of the day we can turn it into a positive. I know for him, it's between him and his family."

The excitable pitcher signed a $37 million, three-year contract with the Mets after saving a record 62 games with the Angels in 2008. His deal that includes a $17.5 million team option for 2012 that would become guaranteed if he remains healthy and has 100 games finished this year and next, including 55 in 2011.

Rodriguez is 4-2 with 25 saves and a 2.24 ERA this season.

In May, Rodriguez and bullpen coach Randy Niemann got into a heated exchange while the pitcher was preparing to enter a game. Manuel later said the matter was resolved, without divulging what caused the dispute.

In July 2009, Rodriguez and former Mets official Tony Bernazard argued aboard the team bus. Bernazard was later fired by the Mets amid several allegations.

That June, Rodriguez and New York Yankees reliever Brian Bruney needed to be separated before a game. They had jawed at each other in the media a day earlier.

With Rodriguez out, right-hander Ryota Igarashi was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to fill the roster spot. Igarashi's team was in Scranton, Pa., and he took a taxi for $300 and got to Citi Field in the sixth inning.

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