Paul Blackburn saves bullpen in surprise return to Mets

Paul Blackburn’s “weird” season took another strange turn late Tuesday night when he was awoken by a messenger banging on his hotel room door after missing a phone call informing him the Mets were planning to activate him the next day from the injured list.

At that point Blackburn was set for a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.

But the Mets had utilized Justin Hagenman for four innings in relief in their victory over the Braves and wanted Blackburn to join the bullpen as Hagenman’s replacement.