4 unforgettable Cubs facts we learned MLB Network's 2016 World Series Game 7 special

#3: If the home plate umpire doesn't miss a strike three call in the fifth, Kyle Hendricks would have been back out to start the sixth

On a similar note, looking back at the replay of the game, Maddon said Hendricks 'absolutely' would have come out for another inning of work had home plate umpire Sam Holbrook not missed a 2-2 call that should have been strike three on Indians' slugger Carlos Santana.

When watching that fifth inning, Francona made the same often-heard comparison of Hendricks to Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, pointing out his ability to slow down at-bats when the moments got big - singling out the Santana at-bat as a perfect example of that.

The right-hander perfectly executed a pitch that ran back over the inside part of the plate to the left-handed Santana, but it wasn't well-received by Willson Contreras behind the plate, leading to a ball call from Holbrook. Hendricks went on to walk Santana, bringing Maddon out of the dugout and setting up the situation I just referenced where the Cubs' 5-1 lead quickly shrank to 5-3.

It's incredibly thought-provoking to think about what that game might have looked like had Hendricks got the call, the Cubs held a 5-1 lead heading into the sixth and Lester was only tasked with maybe two innings and Chapman getting a clean ninth inning. No error and wild pitch situation, no game-tying Rajai Davis home run - frankly, it might not have become the all-time classic it is today.