Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz, completing a no-hitter against the Orioles a year ago, has struggled this season.

Journal / Bob Breidenbach

PORTLAND, Maine — Last Sept. 1, Clay Buchholz dazzled the baseball world by throwing a no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox in just his second major-league start.

On the anniversary of that feat, Buchholz is with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League. Portland plays its last regular season game today.

“This is definitely a roller coaster for me,” the 24-year-old Buchholz said before a recent Sea Dogs game. “The adversity that came toward me this year started in spring training and never quit. It just pounded me all year.”

Before this season, success came easily for Buchholz, who was a star at Angelina (Texas) Junior College and in the minor leagues before making his Red Sox debut last August.

Then he hurled his masterpiece — a 10-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, allowing four baserunners and retiring the final 11 batters.

He was just the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in either his first or second big-league start.

“It was a dream come true, and my life turned 180 degrees in one night,” he said.

He ended the 2007 season with a 3-1 record, a 1.59 ERA and a World Series ring after the Red Sox swept Colorado. But Buchholz’s fairy-tale start did a 180 the other way this year.

After a rough start to the season, he was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket for almost two months to sharpen his skills in a less-stressful environment.

Manager Terry Francona said Buchholz experienced “growing pains” and lost confidence. It didn’t help that the Red Sox are in the middle of close races for the A.L. East title and a wildcard playoff spot.

In 2007, everything came easily, and there was little pressure, Buchholz said. This year, nothing was easy, and he put too much pressure on himself. He’s hopeful the Sox will call him up this month, but he’ll do whatever the club asks of him.

Buchholz knows he has the right stuff to succeed in the major leagues. Right now, it’s “a mental thing,” he said, learning to again trust his pitches and ability.”

AP Sports Writer Mike Fitzpatrick in New York contributed to this report.