AP

Baseball players belonging to the Saraperos de Saltillo team and spectators take cover during an intense shootout that broke out in the parking lot of the stadium in the city of Saltillo, northern Mexico, on March 13, 2012.

A gunbattle near a baseball stadium in the Mexican city of Saltillo killed three suspected gunmen and sent players scurrying for cover on Tuesday, The Associated Press reports.

Sergio Sisbeles, a state security spokesman, said the gunbattle broke out after gunmen opened fire on a state police patrol on a street near the stadium while the Saraperos team was playing an exhibition match against a local youth team.

Police chased the gunmen, killing three and wounding another. Local media reported there were no injuries among the players or fans.

 Drug cartels are active in the region, but police did not say whether the suspects belonged to a gang. Read more.

• See more pictures of Mexico's ongoing cycle of violence on PhotoBlog

AP

Baseball players belonging to the Saraperos de Saltillo team take cover during the shootout.

AP

A special tactics state police officer smokes next to an injured and handcuffed man as he lies on the ground after the shootout.

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