BOSTON — Rookie Brett Anderson threw Oakland’s first complete game since last July 8 and outpitched 21-year veteran John Smoltz to lead the Athletics to a 6-0 victory over the Red Sox last night.

Former Boston star Nomar Garciaparra tipped his helmet and tapped his chest as he received a one-minute standing ovation before his first at-bat as an opponent at Fenway Park, then singled twice and drove in the first run.

Anderson, who was 82 days old when Smoltz made his major league debut on April 23, 1988, struck out a career-high nine, allowed two singles and two walks and ended Oakland’s 151-game stretch without a complete game. It was the first shutout by an opposing left-hander at Fenway Park since the Brewers’ Scott Karl blanked the Red Sox, 6-0, on Sept. 9, 1996.