After an injury, the Yankees needed Lindy McDaniel to give them some innings out of the bullpen. He did that and more.
A starting pitcher leaving a game early due to injury is just something that happens. It's never ideal, but it's something that you occasionally have to deal with. Usually, a long reliever will be brought in to eat in to some of the innings the starter was expected to go. At that point, your hope is that the reliever can keep you in the game and maybe you can survive the loss of the starter. On August 4, 1973, the Yankees' long reliever did a pretty good job of keeping them in the game.