ANAHEIM -- Angel Stadium holds a special place in Guerrero family history. Vladimir Guerrero Sr. called it home for six seasons, including his American League MVP campaign in 2004. So much of his peak happened as a member of the Angels that he became the first player to wear their cap into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Prior to the Blue Jays' 4-3 loss to the Angels on Tuesday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped foot on the field at the "Big A" for the first time as a Major Leaguer. Batting fifth and starting at third base, Guerrero received a nice hand from the Angel Stadium crowd as he came up for his first at-bat in the second, in which he struck out against right-hander Griffin Canning. Guerrero went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks before being lifted for a pinch-runner in the ninth.

Whatever gravity might have come with his Anaheim debut, Guerrero wasn’t inclined to let it get to him.

“It doesn’t matter which stadium,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “The big leagues are the big leagues.”

Although Guerrero didn’t record a hit for the first time in a Major League game, he made an impact in other ways. In the bottom of the second, Guerrero made a nice diving stop to throw out future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols at first.

Guerrero also showed off his plate discipline, as the early trend of pitchers giving him few pitches in the strike zone continued. Of the 21 pitches thrown to Guerrero across four plate appearances, only three were over the plate. Canning, the Angels’ top pitching prospect who made his MLB debut, kept the ball outside the plate against him; relievers Cam Bedrosian and Hansel Robles mostly followed suit.

“I don’t make adjustments,” Guerrero said when asked if he was planning a change in approach. “I just see the ball and if it’s a good pitch, I’ll swing.”

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo is pleased with the rookie third baseman’s patience in the batter’s box.

“At the end of the day, I think it’s going to be up to Vladdy to be patient and get his pitches, and he will be,” Montoyo said. “That’s how it goes. The same thing happens to Mike Trout, but he finds a way to hit the ball. He’ll get there. That’s the good thing about Vladdy, for being 20 years old, he doesn’t mind taking a walk, and that’s pretty good.”

The other side was impressed as well. Trout, the Angels’ current bearer of Vlad Sr.’s No. 27, had nothing but praise after his first live look at Vlad Jr.

“You hear a lot about him. Finally get to see him. I’m excited for him,” Trout said. “I’m happy for Vladdy [Sr.], happy for him. It’s good for baseball. A lot of hype, obviously, with him being a prospect. That’s good that finally he’s up here. He deserves to be up here. I don’t even think he got out in the Minor Leagues. Every night I saw him on a recap, he was hitting a home run. ... Obviously, he’s Vladdy’s kid, so that means a lot more, too.”

Vlad Jr. is well on his way to making a name for himself, but that won’t erase the plentiful memories from many childhood summers spent with his father in Anaheim. He remembers being in the clubhouse as a young boy. He remembers coming back in 2010, when his father made his final All-Star Game appearance as a member of the Rangers. And he remembers watching as Vlad Sr. provided numerous great moments for baseball fans.

Vlad Sr., who was in Toronto for his son’s debut series, did not make the trip to Anaheim because he didn’t want to take away from Vlad Jr.’s moment.

Still, it was unavoidable that Vlad Sr.’s presence loomed large over the ballpark for Tuesday’s opener. According to Montoyo, though, it wasn’t going to get to Vlad Jr. Nothing is.

“[After] Toronto, with all the press we had, there’s not a place that he’s going to feel pressure,” Montoyo said.

Sogard dealing with stomach virus

Blue Jays second baseman Eric Sogard was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning after retreating to the clubhouse due to a stomach virus, according to Montoyo. After an evaluation by the Blue Jays’ medical staff, Sogard received an IV treatment.

“Been better, been better,” Sogard said when asked how he was feeling postgame, adding that he hoped the IV treatment would help. It’s uncertain whether Sogard will be available to play Wednesday.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the third inning, Sogard made a wild throw trying to retire Brian Goodwin at first. But the Blue Jays managed to work it to their advantage thanks to some miscommunication on the basepaths between Trout and Justin Bour. Montoyo wasn’t sure if Sogard’s illness had anything to do with the play.

“That’s a good question,” Montoyo said. “It’s a tough play when you’ve got a running target to first base for somebody to put it right there, so I’m going to say [the illness is] what it was.”