Former Red Sox standouts from different eras, Jonny Gomes and Bill Lee, embrace after Gomes hit two homers in the first round of the FCBL All-Star Home Run Derby Tuesday at Historic Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Jonny Gomes Tuesday’s Futures Collegiate League Home Run Derby at Historic Holman Stadium a success.

Why? In the former Red Sox World Series star’s mind, he went 2 for 2.

“I’ll tell you what, just a moral win,” he said after hitting two home runs in round 1 and one in the second round for a total of three on the day. “We did all right. Left uninjured with (three) on the board, so I’m happy. Don’t get hurt, and don’t get a zero.”

For the fans and the host Nashua Silver Knights, it was 1 for 2, as the actual All-Star contest itself was postponed until tonight at 6:03 p.m., thanks to the downpours that began near the end of the HR Derby and continued for about an hour thereafter, with intermittent rain the rest of the night. The good news is Monkey Boy will still perform tonight. As for the popular Bill Lee and Butch Hobson, Hobson had to leave town but Lee as of last night was still a possibility to come back.

The Derby plans changed a couple of times fearing the weather, with the left field tented Beer Garden a popular spot and kids all over the outfield to try to shag fly balls that didn’t make it out. At least a combined five balls from the seven contestants – Gomes included, either hit the big tent in left field or soared over it.

Westfield’s Morrie Fried takes a swing during the second round of Tuesday’s FCBL All-Star Home Run Derby at HHS. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

To beat the rain, originally things were going to be just one round, rather than have Gomes wait for a second round. But then, heck, it looked like there was time, so why not three? The ultimate winner was – big surprise – Westfield’s Morrie Fried, who hit four in Round 1, three in round 2, and in a five swing playoff vs. Norwich’s Shaun Flannery, beat him 2-1 for the title with two Hrs right of the bat. Gomes joined the two in Round 2 but managed only one dinger, and they moved on to the finals.

Unfortunately for Silver Knights fans, slugger Connor Smith went 0 for 10 as the last hitter in the first round.

Fried, of course, hit a bomb on Saturday night in which not a single Silver Knight outfielder moved in a 3-0 loss. The 6-foot 4, 227-pound Brown University incoming freshman and Pittsfield, Mass. native is the second straight and third all-time Starfire to win the Derby. Westfield is the only FCBL franchise with multiple winners. Cole Bartels won it in 2021 last year in Worcester Griffin Enis took home the title. For some reason, Fried only has two homers in the regular season so far this year, the second of which the Knights witnessed first hand. He was mobbed by his Biker teammates after he won.

In any event, while some players, may have to be excused so they can rejoin their teams in time for travel, the show will go on this evening. If fans who had tickets for Tuesday — those are good for tonight — can’t attend, they can exchange them for any Silver Knights game this season. There are six home dates remaining.

Former Red Sox standout Jonny Gomes takes a swing during Tuesday’s FCBL All-Star HR Derby at Historic Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)