RIO DE JANEIRO -- Drenched with sweat and nearly out of breath, exhilarated American fencer Gerek Meinhardt tried to explain how his mens foil team won an Olympic medal for the first time in 84 years.We feel like we belong here, Meinhardt said.Before Meinhardt could utter another word, teammate Alexander Massialas cut him off.We dont think. We do belong here, Massialas said.It was hard to argue otherwise after the Americans won bronze Friday, the third medal for the U.S. men at the Rio de Janeiro Games. Massialas and Meinhardt led the way as the U.S. defeated Italy 45-31 following a tough loss in the semifinals.Russia won the mens team foil gold, its sixth fencing medal of the Rio Games. Russia rallied from five points down to beat France 45-41, capturing its third gold medal in fencing so far.Massialas and Meinhardt dominated the Italians with a three-match stretch in which they outscored their opponents 20-1. The win was especially sweet for Massialas, whose poor performance in the final moments of his previous match kept his team from fighting for a gold medal.The U.S. began its day with a 45-37 win over Egypt, putting it just a win over Russia away from the final.The Americans had the Russians right where they wanted them, too, up 40-39 and with the top-ranked Massialas set to close the bout.But Alexey Cheremisinov stunned Massialas with a series of quick blows, and the U.S. fell 45-41.I only have my teammates to thank because I was down after that match. It was probably one of the worst team matches Ive ever fenced and I felt like I let my whole team down, Massialas said. There were no droopy heads except for mine. All they did was try to pick my head up.With roughly four hours to kill between bouts, the Americans went on their phones and discovered what they called a series of mean tweets about their performance against the Russians.Instead of bringing them down, Miles Chamley-Watson said the criticism brought the team closer together -- even joking that the haters were motivators.The effort that ultimately led to a medal truly was a team effort.Chamley-Watson fenced about as well as he ever has in the preliminary rounds. Race Imbodens only bout in the Olympics was a win over individual champion Daniele Garozzo in the bronze medal match, and Meinhardt outscored his opponents 13-1 in his final two bouts.And it was only fitting that Massialas, just hours after losing to Russia, would score the 45th and final point.Its more than a medal at this point, Massialas said.While the U.S. womens fencing team broke through in 2004 when Mariel Zagunis won the first of two individual gold medals, the men had yet to do so until the Rio Olympics. The foil team finished fourth four years ago at the London Games.This time, the Americans were able to finally celebrate.They made the most of it, too, jumping into the stands and wrapping themselves in American flags on the piste.For the first time, the U.S.A. is a powerhouse in fencing. It never has been before, Imboden said. For us to come together and have each others backs, it just proves that its not a fluke anymore. Roquan Smith Youth Jersey . 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They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. OAKLAND, Calif. -- First baseman Justin Smoak has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $8.25 million with the Toronto Blue Jays.The contract announced by the team on Saturday will pay the 29-year-old Smoak $4.125 million per season in the first two years of the deal, with a $6 million option in 2019.Smoak would have been a free agent after this season in a thin market but said he wanted to stay in the American League East.We love Toronto, me and my family, and we wanted to stay here as long as we can, Smoak said. So we just wanted to get something done.Smoak is in his seventh season in the majors with his third team. He was the 11th overall selection in the first round of the 2008 draft by the Texas Rangers.He batting .234 with nine home runs and 23 runs batted in this season. In seven major league seasons, hes had a .225 batting average with 101 home runs, 316 RBI and a .310 on-base percentage.Smooak, by his own admission, says he hasnt lived up to the expectations of his elite pre-draft status.ddddddddddddNo, not even close, Smoak said Saturday before the game against Oakland. I know I can be a better player. Its all about staying consistent. Thats what you strive for every day and thats the goal to keep working on ... to be a more consistent player.Smoak, an everyday player with the Seattle Mariners for four seasons, has accepted being a role player with the Blue Jays.I know what it takes to play every day for a full season, and I also know what it takes to be a guy off the bench and be ready to help this team out, Smoak said. I want to play every day, thats always the goal. But if thats not the case, thats not the case.Whatever it takes to help this team win ballgames. ' ' '