Miguel Cabrera silences doubters, proves he remains among game’s greats

1:25 AM ET

DETROIT — It was only a few weeks ago that people were starting to wonder about Miguel Cabrera. Chalk it up to the mass hysteria created by an abysmal losing skid or an uncharacteristically slow start for the reigning American League batting champion, but there were definitely folks questioning if this was the beginning of the inevitable end, the painful decline of one of the most formidable hitters in baseball.

Those people might be feeling pretty foolish right now.

“You know, I bet you there was a lot of people talking, ‘Oh, Miggy’s done,’ this and that. I really want to hear what they say now,” Cabrera’s veteran teammate Victor Martinez said. “With all due respect to other players around the league, for me, he’s the best hitter in the game. That just shows you he’s human. He’s allowed to struggle once in awhile.”

Cabrera is struggling no more; the former Triple Crown winner continued to build on what was already a monumental week. After being named American League co-player of the week (along with teammate Cameron Maybin), Cabrera delivered another epic performance in the Tigers’ 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.

The 33-year-old slugger, who was forced from Sunday’s game after being hit by a pitch on the left knee, returned to go 3-for-3, which included a pair of home runs and the 500th double of his career. (Cabrera took home second base after the game.)

The Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera connects for one of his two home runs Monday night. Duane Burleson/Getty Images

“I mean, it means a lot to me,” Cabrera said of the accomplishment, which only 61 other players in MLB history have done. “Like I said before, we coming from another country, so a lot of people don’t know where we come from, how we live in the past, how we grew up. We make it this far, it’s very …

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