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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mouth agape, Matt Anderson yelled from every ounce of his being to celebrate big hit after pounding big hit. Erik Shoji chased down ball after ball, diving into the U.S. bench to keep one key point alive.When the mens volleyball team had no choice but to fight to remain in the tournament a little longer, the Americans delivered against the big beast that is Brazil -- a team playing on its home turf.After two forgettable preliminary matches and facing the real possibility of Olympic elimination, Anderson and the Americans stunned Brazil in four sets Thursday night to deny the previously unbeaten host nation a quarterfinal berth.Anderson led the charge for a roster packed with Olympic first-timers, but this inspired performance took every player and every play.We play our best volleyball when our backs are against the wall, U.S. captain David Lee said. We proved it again tonight. ... This was probably the hardest weve fought, I think our team has ever fought. Thats some of the best defense Ive ever seen.Anderson brought it with his jump serve, his big hitting and reliable passing in a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20 victory that left the raucous, flag-waving pro-Brazil crowd at Maracanazinho arena in utter disbelief.When youre playing against an entire crowd thats against you, 95 percent of the crowds against you, if you can get them to be quiet, its a hell of a feeling, Anderson said.After being swept by Canada in the opener, the Americans held a player-only meeting, then other sessions with the coaches, even some individual sitdowns -- everybody determined to get it right before it was too late.Were like a family, so theres nothing that cant be said between each other. We hear the message not the words, Anderson said. Its a huge lesson in knowing that we can come back, even against one of the best teams, if not the best team in this tournament.The U.S. snapped a four-match losing streak to Brazil in international competition. When Brazils kill attempt sailed long on match point, the Americans could truly jump up and down to cheer their first victory at the Rio de Janeiro Games -- and one that will be remembered by a captivated U.S. crowd back home that weighed in on social media with shoutouts.Anderson, who already had scored 20 points early in the fourth set, set the tone from the opening serve of the late-night match beginning at nearly 11 p.m. local time.The 6-foot-8 outside hitter pumped his tattooed arms and yelled out Yeah!Theres like this look that he gets and some of the celebrations, Shoji said. I cant really describe it but you just know if you feed him the ball and he gets a kill, he starts rolling.Shoji saved two balls with lunging, one-handed gets to keep a point alive and put the Americans ahead 6-2 in the fourth -- the back-row specialist diving into the U.S. bench and also over the end line during the sequence.During that back-and-forth first set, balls were coming across the net so hard that one kill slammed into Shojis chest and sent the U.S. libero to the floor.Brazil had only dropped two sets over its first two matches.Earlier Thursday, Argentina and Poland played the longest set so far in the Olympic tournament, with the Poles (3-0) outlasting the Argentines 37-35 in a back-and-forth third set on the way to a sweep and quarterfinal berth.Italy, playing without injured captain Emanuele Birarelli because of a sprained right ankle, topped Mexico in straight sets, 25-17, 25-13, 25-17.Air Max Clearance .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap Air Max 95 For Sale . 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LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Cheap Air Max From China . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yonder Alonsos doubles are spoiling the Kansas City Royals postseason hopes.Alonso and Marcus Semien hit two-run doubles as the Oakland Athletics beat Kansas City 8-0 for the third straight game on Wednesday night to further ruin the Royals postseason chances.The 2015 World Series champion Royals are five games out in the American League wild card with 17 games left and would have to climb over five teams.I think our guys were really fired up coming into today, Royals manager Ned Yost said. There was some anger in that locker room today before the game, so I dont feel any deflation. Guys are upset that we lost those games. Theyre not pointing any fingers because they know that we win as a team and lose as a team. Theyre not happy with it.Alonsos two-run eighth inning laser pinch double Tuesday lifted the As to victory. Alonsos broken-bat double in the first scored Danny Valencia and Stephen Vogt.A totally different swing in a totally different situation, but it got the job done and thats what matters, Alonso said. In this game, sometimes youd rather by lucky than good. It worked out for me yesterday. Today was a new day and it worked out. The bat died a hero.As rookie left-hander Sean Manaea (5-9) picked up his first career road victory, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced in five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one. Manaea, who had not pitched since Aug. 29 when he left in the fourth inning with a strained left rhomboid, was removed after 67 pitches. The As acquired Manaea from the Royals in July 2015 as part of the Ben Zobrist trade.I dont think about those things, Manaea said of facing his former club. It was great seeing those guys again and doing well against them makes everything better.Yordano Ventura (10-11) threw 39 pitches, 28 after two outs, in a three-run third. Ventura retired the first two batters and then gave up five consecutive hits, two of them doubles. Semiens double scored Alonso and Ryon Healy. Bruce Maxwells single scored Semien.I was trying to be a little too fine and I was falling behind in the count, Ventura said through an interpreter.Ventura was pulled after 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, four walks, a hit batter and two wild pitchess.dddddddddddd He has yielded 17 hits and nine runs in 11 1/3 innings in losing his past two starts.Khris Davis delivered a two-out two-run eighth inning single and scored on Healys single to cap off the scoring.Oakland relievers John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Chris Smith held the Royals to one single the final four innings. The As bullpen has restricted the Royals to one run and three hits over 12 1/3 innings in the first three games.Manaea did a great job of pitching, as did their whole staff, Yost said. You know, Ventura was out there competing his tail off. He just struggled to command the secondary stuff and his fastball.The Royals, who have lost seven of their past eight home games, did not have a runner reach third base.STICKING WITH SORIAWhile RHP Joakim Soria is 0-3 with three blown saves and a 9.00 ERA in seven games since August 30, Royals manager Ned Yost said he is not forsaking him. Jacks had great outings and hes had bad outings, Yost said. Yeah, hes had a rough year. The thing that is so puzzling to him is he feels good. Its just one of those things.FUENTES RELEASEDThe Royals asked for unconditional release waivers on Rey Fuentes, who was their opening day starting right fielder after hitting .386 in spring training. Fuentes hit .317 in 13 games and 44 plate-appearances with Kansas City. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Omaha, where he hit .254 and swiped 17 bases in 22 attempts.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: RHP Sonny Gray (strained forearm) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session and could appear in a game before the season ends. The look on his face and the intensity in which he threw suggests that he wants to pitch, As manager Bob Melvin said. Obviously, well be careful and make sure that every step along the way hes healthy, but theres a good chance, at this point, well get him in a game or two. . RHP J.B. Wendelken (forearm tightness) was unavailable.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Daniel Mengden, who is 0-2 with a 10.57 ERA in two September starts, faces the Royals for the first time.Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who has won his past three decisions against the As, starts the series finale. ' ' '