Notes: Mills' 'pretty surreal' save; Willson OK

CHICAGO -- Alec Mills has ample experience when it comes to pitching in a high-stress ninth inning against the rival Brewers. The Cubs' right-hander famously finished off a no-hitter against Milwaukee last September.

Even with that history, it felt much different for Mills when he took the mound in the ninth on Monday night. He was filling in for closer Craig Kimbrel and working in front of fans at Wrigley Field, where the crowd shifted to its feet one out from the win.

"After the second out," Mills said Tuesday, "for everybody to stand up was a pretty surreal, pretty cool moment for me. I kind of had to sit down and calm down afterwards.

"That's usually not the moment that I'm in, but I feel like I can pitch in that moment."

Cubs manager David Ross feels he can trust Mills in a variety of moments this season. Mills can fill in as a starter on occasion. He can log multi-inning relief outings. Or, as was the case Monday, he can also handle high-leverage situations.

While Mills expressed disappointment over not winning the fifth spot in the Opening Day rotation, he is embracing his multi-faceted role.

"I'm not going to lie, it didn't feel great," Mills said. "I kind of walked out of the meeting, maybe took the rest of the day. And then the next day, it's a new day. At the end of the day, I'm still playing baseball. I'm still with the Chicago Cubs.

"It's still a lot of fun to come play with these guys every day. I'm never going to take anything for granted. This is a new role for me, but I'm more than happy to do it. Hopefully, I can flourish in it."

Mills set down the Brewers in order to seal Monday's 5-3 victory, ending with a changeup that eluded the bat of Luis Urías for a strikeout. It made Mills the first pitcher since Derek Lowe in 2002 to have a no-hitter and at least one save in his career against a single opponent, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

"Millsy's very versatile and has handled a lot of the situations that I put him [in]," Ross said. "Trust is a big thing for me. He's a guy that has gained some trust, and he's had success against a lot of those guys in that lineup."

Contreras fine after HBP scare
Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was back in the lineup Tuesday night, one day after being hit in the helmet by a Devin Williams fastball in the seventh inning of Monday's win.

Ross said Contreras passed all the concussion tests, and the catcher noted Monday night that he did not experience any dizziness after the high heater.

"I felt like the dad last night, for sure," Ross said Tuesday. "He was probably sick of seeing my face walk by his locker after the game, during the game, and then we had the docs check him out again today. He's all smiles, seems to be in a good place."

Worth noting
? Veteran catcher Austin Romine (10-day injured list, right knee) is currently getting at-bats and continuing his rehab at the South Bend, Ind., alternate training site. Ross said Romine is pushing to return as soon as possible.

"We're going to listen to the feedback," Ross said. "He's a really good player and a big piece to this team and a big part of this team, and we want him back as soon as we feel like he's ready, he feels like he's ready and can stay healthy."

? Jake Marisnick's steal of second in the seventh on Monday gave the Cubs at least one stolen base in each of a season's first four games since 2001. Chicago has not stolen at least one in five or more games since 1907 (eight games).

? The Cubs haven't been charged with any errors through the season's first four games, marking the longest such streak to begin a campaign since 1992 (six games).

Quotable
"I'm happy for him. I'm happy for the recognition he's gotten here. I mean, getting a statue outside a baseball stadium. That's, I don't even know what world that is that people get to live in to have that. That's pretty darn neat when you get that." -- Ross, on the Cubs' plans to erect a statue of Fergie Jenkins outside Wrigley Field