ATLANTA — Ten days after designating relief pitcher J.C. Romero for assignment, the Red Sox have placed the lefty on unconditional release waivers. Romero has to wait until tomorrow to learn if he clears, at which point he can become a free agent.

The Sox have been trying to move Romero, but have found interest in him limited, due in equal part to his ineffectiveness this season and his contract. Romero signed a $1.6-million deal with the Sox last winter and any team dealing for him would have had to assume the remainder of his 2007 money.

Because Romero was a free agent last winter, the Sox would have needed his permission to trade him before June 15. It’s unknown, however, if the Sox found much interest since teams knew the likelihood of his being placed on waivers.

If, as expected Romero clears, he’ll be free to sign with any team for the pro-rated minimum, with the Sox on the hook for the remainder of his base salary.

Ortiz sits out

Minus the DH once again on National League turf, Boston manager Terry Francona elected to sit David Ortiz last night while keeping Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell in the lineup.

The presence of Atlanta starter Chuck James, a lefty, certainly influenced the decision.

Ortiz will play the final two games of the series, with Lowell and Youkilis sitting out one each.

Lowell had a rough night, going 0-for-5 while Youkilis was 1-for-4 with a walk.

Clement update

Francona delivered a progress report on rehabbing starter Matt Clement.

Clement, who underwent rotator cuff surgery last September, has been throwing off the mound at the team’s extended spring training program in Fort Myers, Fla.

When the current road trip concludes next week, Clement will come to Boston to undergo a checkup with the medical staff and discuss his throwing program with Francona and pitching coach John Farrell.

Francona said he wouldn’t rule out Clement pitching in September, but cautioned that Clement, while progressing, “still has a ways to go, before being game-ready.”

Youkilis nears record

Youkilis played his 117th consecutive errorless game at first base last night, leaving him two shy of the all-time Red Sox record, set by Stuffy McInnis in 1921.

His last error at first, he’s made two errors at third base this season, came July 4, 2006, at Tampa Bay.

Entering last night, Youkilis had handled 1,033 chances without an error.

Pedroia’s streak ends

Youkilis’ teammate on the right side of the Red Sox infield, rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia, saw an errorless streak come to an end in the sixth inning.

Pedroia booted a grounder from Scott Thorman, then after recovering, threw wildly past Youkilis, enabling Thorman to reach safely.

Until last night, Pedroia had gone 47 games without an error. His last error had come April 11, in the second week of the season.

Around the bases

Coco Crisp recorded the seventh four-hit game of his career, his first since Sept. 11, 2005. … Lefty Hideki Okajima, who appeared in all three games against the San Francisco Giants over the weekend, was unavailable last night, according to Francona. … Jason Varitek threw out Willie Harris attempting to steal second in the third inning, only the third time in 23 tries that Varitek has gunned down a baserunner. … Curt Schilling drove a single up the middle in the third inning. Maybe Schilling likes the hitters’ background here at Turner Field; he had a base hit in interleague play here last summer, too. … The Sox went into last night with a 13-3 mark in road interleague play. Since the start of 2006, the Sox are 24-6 against N.L. teams, the game’s best interleague record in that span.

smcadam@projo.com