CINCINNATI -- David Ross and Dexter Fowler had planned on hosting a pizza party at their hotel before Jake Arrieta's no-hitter Thursday night, but the milestone made the Cubs' players get-together even more special.
"It was really fun to hear everybody's perspective," said Ross, who caught his first no-hitter in the Cubs' 16-0 win over the Reds. "That was my favorite part to hear what this guy was thinking and that guy was thinking."
Some of the players admitted to being nervous. Miguel Montero, who had caught Arrieta's first no-hitter Aug. 30, 2015, against the Dodgers, had watched the Cubs on defense from the clubhouse. He wasn't sure what to do in the ninth inning -- if he went in the dugout, and Arrieta gave up a hit, would it be Montero's fault?
:: Jake Arrieta's no-hitter: April 21, 2016 ::
For the record, Montero was in the dugout, and Arrieta did notch no-hitter No. 2. The first text message the pitcher sent to his wife, Brittany, was that he did it for Ross.
"Once I got to the sixth, seventh innings, that was my only concern was to do it for him," Arrieta said. "We had talked about it several times and that he still hadn't caught one or had that opportunity yet."
Ross, 39, said he got a little emotional reading the note from Brittany. He didn't save any souvenirs from the game.
"The memories are enough for me," Ross said. "Some of the pictures of the hug [after the final out], that's what is really cool."
Ross was back behind the plate Friday to catch Jon Lester.
"I always give these guys a hard time, tell them to turn the page," Ross said. "Yesterday was yesterday."