Williams, Ramos, Souza react to Zimmermann's no-hitter

The regular season finale belonged to Jordan Zimmermann. A day that was supposed to be about getting the Nationals' regulars a couple of at-bats and then making sure they finished the season healthy suddenly turned into a, 'There's no way he could actually do this, right?' afternoon for a starting pitcher who hadn't appeared in a game in eight days and had been drilled on the right shoulder by a line drive in his last start. Zimmermann cut through the Marlins' lineup in a swift 121 minutes, registering 10 strikeouts and facing just one over the minimum. He made it look easy for much of the afternoon, but needed Steven Souza Jr.'s remarkable diving catch for the final out, saving the no-hitter and ending the regular season in the best way possible. It was the first no-hitter in Nationals history, and it was a ballgame that D.C. sports fans won't forget anytime soon. Here are thoughts from Matt Williams, catcher Wilson Ramos and Souza after the game: Williams On using Souza as a defensive replacement in the ninth: "If we go extra-innings, we're in trouble. We've got Jayson (Werth) still there and two catchers. But felt like we owed it to Jordan to try and put the best defensive club in there. Souz made a great play." On if Zimmermann was originally on an innings limit because of his shoulder: "Well yeah. We wanted to get him through five, six. But you can't deny the opportunity to have something special like that happen in somebody's life. Once he got to the sixth inning, then he was going until he gave one up." On if he was almost wishing the no-hitter would get broken up so he could take Zimmermann out: "I would never ever think in that regard. It's a special day. It doesn't happen very often. He was in command from the beginning. His pitch count was low, which helps. There was never a thought of taking him out until he gave up a hit. The bullpen was hot the last three innings at the start of the inning, in case it didn't happen. But what a perfect end to his season." On what the dugout is like as that game is progressing: "It's pretty silent, as usual. Randy (Knorr) and Cat (Steve McCatty) and I are taking it down the tunnel to talk, so we don't do it in front of anybody. It's one of those special days that everybody's proud to be a part of, and certainly a fantastic end to our regular season. It's great to see him get mobbed by his teammates and have that celebration on the field. That's wonderful." On what he's thinking as the ball flies off Yelich's bat and out to the left-center gap before Souza can make the grab: "Just asking Steven to get his legs going and go get it. The ball was carrying today. It's warm outside and fly balls were carrying very well. He made a great play. That's typical of the way these guys play. That play epitomizes the way they've gone about it all year. It's a great catch." Wilson Ramos On the no-hitter: "Right now I feel very happy for what I did today with Jordan. That was my first no-hitter in my career. Minor league, big league, that's the first no-hitter of my career. I be excited for this day today. We worked pretty good today. I called a good game. Jordan threw the ball really good today, outstanding job for him. Steven Souza, Jr., he made an unbelievable play. All the time when somebody is throwing a no-hitter, something good happens behind the pitcher. Good plays, somebody need to make one great play. Steven, he did it today. That was an amazing game. It was an amazing job for Jordan, so I feel good for that." On when he knew it could be a special day: "To me, in the eighth inning. I don't like to think about no-hitters because every time we think about that, the hit is coming right away. In the eighth inning, it was on my mind that this was an opportunity for a no-hitter." On Zimmermann's mentality today: "He was aggressive all of the game. Since the start, since the beginning of the game to the end of the game, he was aggressive. He was aggressive all game long. That's a guy like that that we need in the playoffs. Stay aggressive all of the time. Impressive job for him and the rest of the guys, too." On what emotions he was feeling in the ninth: "I was excited in the last inning. I wasn't caring about my at-bat, 0-for-3 with groundballs into double plays, I don't care about that. I was concentrating on just calling a good game for all of the time. All the time I say for the catcher, it's more important to call the game than to hit. If we hit, that's extra for the catcher. I feel happy for what I did today only for my defense. I feel happy, I can't explain to you guys how happy I feel right now for what I did behind the plate today? Souza On getting a chance to enter the game in the ninth: "I want to stay loose at any time, and in that specific moment, I want to make sure I'm extra ready, you know, if I've got to take off and be at top speed in a second. So I was sprinting out there to make sure my legs were extremely loose." On the emotions after he made the grab: "Just pure excitement, especially for him. For just the years he's put together and just the year to cap off the whole team, that was all in the moment right there. To be a part of it is really just an honor to me." On if he wanted the ball hit to him: "Any time, every ball I want hit at me and just want to make the play for him." On when he knew he'd come into the game: "Beginning of the inning, I had kind of thrown and ran and just kind of stretched out and they kind of let me know." On if he thought he'd catch up to it: "I knew it was going to be extremely close. I knew I was going to have to lay out, and I was just hoping I could get a good enough angle where I could make a good play. Once I got closer, I knew, 'Oh my gosh, this is going to be pretty close.' So I took off." On if Zimmermann will buy him anything: "I think he said he would buy me an M-series beamer. That's what I heard, so ... No, I don't expect anything. It's just a play. I just wish the best for him."