Ricky Romero took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and one-hit shutout into the ninth as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats rolled to a 9-2 win over the Connecticut Defenders yesterday at Dodd Stadium.

The 23-year old southpaw, Toronto's first-round draft pick in 2005, worked eight innings plus four batters, allowing five hits and two runs, walking two and striking out. He improved to 5-5 on the season.

The Fisher Cats scored all the runs they needed in the top of the first inning against starter and losing pitcher Ben Snyder (1-2). Chris Gutierrez led off the game by beating out an infield single. He left the game with an injury, replaced by pinch-runner Travis Snider. J.P. Arencibia singled to left field and David Smith blasted a three-run homer to put New Hampshire up 3-0.

After Ryan Patterson flied out, Jacob Butler hit his 13th home run.

New Hampshire added three more runs off Snyder in the top of the fourth inning. Patterson singled and moved to second on a single by Ryan Klosterman. Andrew Pinckney singled to load the bases and Snider singled to right field to drive in two runs. Eric Nielsen followed with an RBI single to put the Fisher Cats up 7-0.

Romero allowed his first hit, an Olmo Rosario double, with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Smith hit a one-out double in the seventh inning and scored on a Patterson single to make it 8-0. In the top of the eighth, Jonathan Diaz walked and scored on a Snider double to give New Hampshire a 9-0 lead.

The Defenders strung together four straight hits to start the last of the ninth inning. Jared Gothreaux came out of the bullpen to record three straight ground outs to end the game.

The Fisher Cats have already recorded a winning road trip, having taken four of the first six games in Portland and Norwich. The final game of the trip will be tonight at 6:35 p.m. at Dodd Stadium against the Defenders. Righthander Robert Ray (3-3, 3.35) starts for New Hampshire against Connecticut rightyAdam Cowart (7-6, 4.02).