Blue Jays' McGowan loses no-hitter in ninth inning against Rockies

TORONTO -- Dustin McGowan's bid for the second no-hitter in Blue Jays history ended when Jeff Baker singled leading off the ninth inning, and Toronto beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

McGowan lost his chance at the majors' third no-hitter this season when Baker lined an 0-1 pitch up the middle for a base hit. The Rogers Centre crowd then saluted McGowan with a standing ovation.

McGowan (3-3) retired the next three batters to finish his first career shutout. He struck out seven and walked one while throwing 109 pitches.

Dave Stieb tossed the only no-hitter for the Blue Jays on Sept. 2, 1990, at Cleveland. Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox and Detroit's Justin Verlander have thrown no-hitters this season.

Frank Thomas hit his 499th career homer and Vernon Wells added a three-run drive for the Blue Jays (37-37), who got back to .500 for the first time since they were 13-13 on May 1.

The 25-year-old McGowan, a first-round pick in the 2000 draft, was hit hard in his previous start, allowing six runs and eight hits in just 1 2/3 innings against the Dodgers, his shortest start of the season.

Thomas led off the fourth with his 12th home run. It was the second in two days for Thomas, who is one homer shy of becoming the 21st player to hit 500. He struck out in his last two at-bats and finished 1-for-4.

Aaron Hill doubled home a run in the sixth.

The Rockies, who are 0-6 in Toronto, were swept for the first time this season.

Josh Fogg (3-6) allowed five runs and seven hits over six innings, walking two and striking out four. He lost for the first time since May 17 against Arizona, a span of five starts.

Notes: After starting at designated hitter for the first time in

his career Saturday, Helton returned to first base. ... The announced crowd at Rogers Centre was 33,910.